element

el•e•ment

art at electrum [[t]ˈɛl ə mənt[/t]] n.

1) a component or constituent of a whole or one of the parts into which a whole may be resolved by analysis

2) chem. one of a class of substances that cannot be separated into simpler substances by chemical means

3) cvb a natural habitat, sphere of activity, or environment:

to be in one's element[/ex]

4) elements

a) atmospheric forces; weather

b) the rudimentary principles of an art or science

c) rel the bread and wine of the Eucharistic service

5) cvb any group of people singled out, often with disapproval, as having identifiable behavior patterns, common goals, ethnic similarities, etc.:

the radical element[/ex]

6) one of the substances, usu. earth, air, fire, and water, formerly regarded as constituting the material universe

7) cmp/pri a component of a mechanical device:

a printing element on a typewriter[/ex]

8) math. Math.

a) an infinitesimal part of a given quantity, similar in nature to it

b) an entity that satisfies all the conditions of belonging to a given set

9) math. one of the points, lines, planes, or other geometrical forms of which a figure is composed

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Etymology: 1250–1300; < L elementum one of the four elements, letter of the alphabet, first principle, rudiment syn: element, component, constituent, ingredient refer to units that are parts of whole or complete substances, systems, compounds, or mixtures. element denotes a fundamental, ultimate part: elements of matter; elements of a problem. component refers to one of a number of separate parts: Iron and carbon are components of steel. constituent refers to an active and necessary part: The constituents of a molecule of water are two atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen. ingredient is most frequently used in nonscientific contexts to denote any part that is combined into a mixture: the ingredients of a cake; the ingredients of a successful marriage.