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element Definition

el·ement (el′ə mənt)

noun

  1. any of the four substances (earth, air, fire, and water) formerly believed to constitute all physical matter
  2. any of these four substances thought of as the natural environment of a class of living beings
  3. the natural or suitable environment, situation, etc. for a person or thing
    1. a component part or quality, often one that is basic or essential a good story has an element of suspense
    2. a constituent group of a specified kind the criminal element in a city
    3. a determining factor
    4. any of the data needed or used to make certain calculations, solve a particular problem, etc.
  5. on certain electric typewriters, a hollow, metal ball with raised letters, symbols, etc. that print as the corresponding keys are depressed
  6. Chem. any substance that cannot be separated into different substances by ordinary chemical methods: all matter is composed of such substances: elements can be transformed into other elements by radioactive decay or by nuclear reactions
  7. Comput. one item of data, as in an array (sense )
  8. Eccles. the bread and wine of Communion
  9. Elec.
    1. any device with terminals at which it can be connected with other electrical devices
    2. the wire coil that becomes glowing hot, as in an electric oven
  10. Math.
    1. an infinitesimal part of any magnitude; differential
    2. the point, line, etc. that generates a line, surface, etc.
    3. a part of a set or configuration, as a side of a triangle or a number in a matrix
  11. Mil. a subdivision of a unit or formation

Etymology: ME < OFr < L elementum, first principle, element

element Idioms

the elements

  1. the first or basic principles; rudiments
  2. wind, rain, and the other forces of nature that make the weather

element Synonyms

element

n.

  1. A part

    component, constituent, factor, ingredient, portion, particle, detail; see also part 1.

  2. A form of matter

    Ancient science identified the following basic elements: earth, air, fire, water.

  3. Modern chemistry and physics identify the following elements: actinium (Ac), aluminum (Al), americium (Am), antimony (Sb), argon (Ar), arsenic (As), astatine (At), barium (Ba), berkelium (Bk), beryllium (Be), bismuth (Bi), boron (B), bromine (Br), cadmium (Cd), calcium (Ca), californium (Cf), carbon (C), cerium (Ce), cesium (Cs), chlorine (Cl), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), curium (Cm), dysprosium (Dy), einsteinium (Es), erbium (Er), europium (Eu), fermium (Fm), fluorine (F), francium (Fr), gadolinium (Gd), gallium (Ga), germanium (Ge), gold (Au), hafnium (Hf), hassium (Hs), helium (He), holmium (Ho), hydrogen (H), indium (In), iodine (I), iridium (Ir), iron (Fe), krypton (Kr), lanthanum (La), lawrencium (Lr), lead (Pb), lithium (Li), lutetium (Lu), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), meitnerium (Mt), mendelevium (Md), mercury (Hg), molybdenum (Mo), neodymium (Nd), neon (Ne), neptunium (Np), nickel (Ni), nielsbohrium (Ns), niobium (Nb), nitrogen (N), nobelium (No), osmium (Os), oxygen (O), palladium (Pd), phosphorus (P), platinum (Pt), plutonium (Pu), polonium (Po), potassium (K), praseodymium (Pr), promethium (Pm), protactinium (Pa), radium (Ra), radon (Rn), rhenium (Re), rhodium (Rh), rubidium (Rb), ruthenium (Ru), rutherfordium (Rf), samarium (Sm), scandium (Sc), seaborgium (Sg), selenium (Se), silicon (Si), silver (Ag), sodium (Na), strontium (Sr), sulfur (S), tantalum (Ta), technetium (Tc), tellurium (Te), terbium (Tb), thallium (Tl), thorium (Th), thulium (Tm), tin (Sn), titanium (Ti), tungsten (W), uranium (U), vanadium (V), xenon (Xe), ytterbium (Yb), yttrium (Y), zinc (Zn), zirconium (Zr);

element, in its general use, is the broadest term for any of the basic, irreducible parts or principles of anything, concrete or abstract the elements of a science; component and constituent both refer to any of the simple or compound parts of some complex thing or concept, but constituent also implies that the part is essential to the complex hemoglobin is a constituent of blood; ingredient refers to any of the substances (sometimes nonessential) that are mixed together in preparing a food, medicine, etc. the ingredients of a cocktail; factor applies to any of the component parts that are instrumental in determining the nature of the complex luck was a factor in his success

element Usage Examples

Preposition: of

surprise: The gusting wind also added an element of surprise to everyone's run.

Converse of object

  • trace: Essential minerals, trace elements for lambs The lambs also need trace elements.
  • incorporate: The shield incorporates elements symbolic of the three original wards constituted in 1879.
  • combine: The piece combines elements from three carnival traditions ( UK.
  • contain: Every bet, every financial transaction contains an element of risk.
  • introduce: He has brought into the discussion the possibility of introducing a practical element into law degree courses.
  • add: The gusting wind also added an element of surprise to everyone's run.

Preposition: in

array: If there are no elements in the array, returns the undefined value.

Adjective modifier

  • key: Why was the revival of literacy such a key element in Alfred's reforms?
  • essential: Roles Electronic warfare is an essential element of fire support.
  • important: Project work is an important element of the course.
  • crucial: His detailed plans had been flawless, but they missed a crucial element - the pure pleasure of racing.
  • core: This would form a core element of a significantly enhanced public transport network.
  • vital: The quality of fish seed, or young fish, is a vital element for successful aquaculture production.

Noun used with modifier

  • matrix: This transfer function is then used to calculate the distorted partial-wave matrix elements which are used to generate the angular distribution.
  • array: That is, either single array elements, a range of array elements or the entire array may be replaced with a single query.
  • metadata: Initially we plan to use the Dublin Core metadata elements to index the pages on the SuperJournal Web site.
  • data: A bin is full when it points to or contains a data element.
  • trace: Contains essential amino acids and over 70 trace elements.
  • heating: Set to run continuously whilst the heating element switches on & off, or to turn on & off with the heat.