1. An increase or build-up of blood in an organ or in the lower parts of a body: Hypostasis was detected by the doctor when he diagnosed Aunt Jessie with poor blood circulation, caused by the influence of gravity, when she was nearing the end of her life.
2. One of the persons of the Trinity: The hypostasis of Christ depicts the unity of the divine and human natures.
3. The stifling of a gene under the influence of an unrelated gene: Hypostasis is a biological or organic process which takes place in living organisms.
4. The most important or vital part of an idea or experience: Different types of hypostasis can be the core, the essence, or the center of a concept or of something significant.