element

Noun

1. One of the simplest or essential parts or principles of which anything consists, or upon which the constitution or fundamental powers of anything are based.
   • Letters are the elements of written language.
   • The simplicity which is so large an element in a noble nature was laughed to scorn. - 1881, Benjamin Jowett, Thucydides:

   1. (chemistry) Any one of the types of atom distinguished by having a certain number of protons in its nucleus.

      • Hydrogen is the first element in the periodic table. It is the simplest possible atom composed of one proton in the nucleus which is orbited by a single electron. - 2013, “Elements for Kids — Hydrogen”, in...

      Synonyms: chemical element

      Hypernyms: substance material

   2. (chemistry) A chemical substance made entirely of one such type of atom; any one of the simplest chemical substances that cannot be decomposed in a chemical reaction or by any chemical means and made up of atoms all having the same number of protons.

      Synonyms: elementary substance chemical element

      Hypernyms: substance material

   3. One of the four basic building blocks of matter in theories of ancient philosophers and alchemists: water, earth, fire, and air.

      • The she asked the elements to send their spirits to her. - 1965, Attila Zohar, Kings Cross Black Magic, Sydney: Horwitz Publications, page 59:

   4. (usually in the plural) A basic, simple substance out of which something is made, raw material.

      • Thus ſhall my heart be ſtil combinde with thine, Untill our bodies turne to Elements: And both our ſoules aſpire celeſtiall thrones. - c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The...

   5. (law) A required aspect or component of a cause of action. A deed is regarded as a violation of law only if each element can be proved.

   6. (set theory) One of the objects in a set.

      • […] the majority of names being compounded of two elements chosen from a stock of special name-words. - 1945, E[lizabeth] G[idley] Withycombe, “Introduction”, in The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, Oxford,...

      Synonyms: member

   7. (mathematics) One of the entries of a matrix.

   8. Any of the teeth of a zip fastener.

2. A small part of the whole.
   • an element of the picture
3. A small but present amount of a quality, a hint.
   • an element of doubt
   • The case was that of a murder. It had an element of mystery about it, however, which was puzzling the authorities. A turban and loincloth soaked in blood had been found; also a staff. - 1927, F. E. Penny, chapter 4, in...
4. A factor, one of the conditions contributing to a result.
5. The sky.
   • Sometimes, solitude is of all things my wish; and the awful silence of the night, the spangled element, and the rising and setting sun, how promotive of contemplation! - 1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter LXIX”, in...
6. Any one of the heavenly spheres believed to carry the celestial bodies in premodern cosmology.
7. Atmospheric forces such as strong winds and rains.
   • exposed to the elements
8. A place or state of being that a person or object is best suited to.
   • to be in one’s element
9. The bread and wine taken at Holy Communion.
10. A group of people within a larger group having a particular common characteristic.
    • You sometimes find the hooligan element at football matches.
11. The basic principles of a field of knowledge, basics, fundamentals, rudiments.
    • Miniature Nuremberg kitchens complete with all the utensils were said to teach children the elements of housewifery. - 1971, Gwen White, Antique Toys And Their Background, page 198:
12. A component in electrical equipment, often in the form of a coil, having a high resistance, thereby generating heat when a current is passed through it.
    • The element in this electric kettle can heat the water in under a minute.
    • These screens incorporate a layer of transparent gold film in the laminations which forms an electric heating element to act as de-icer and de-mister. - 1960 February 5, “High-Voltage Electric Locomotive for British...

Verb

1. To compound (something) out of elements.
   • Dull ſublunary lovers love / (VVhoſe ſoule is ſenſe) cannot admit / Abſence, becauſe it doth remove / Thoſe things vvhich elemented it. - 1611 or 1612 (date written), J[ohn] Donne, “A Valediction Forbidding Mourning”,...
   • elemented bodies - 1661, Robert Boyle, “(please specify the page)”, in The Sceptical Chymist: or Chymico-physical Doubts & Paradoxes, […], London: […] J. Cadwell for J. Crooke, […], →OCLC:
   • [W]hen he ſays, he has compaſſion on’em, they ſhould ask, where then are his Bowels! […] Alaſs! fond Creature, thou art Elemented and Organ’d for other Apprehenſions […] - 1681, Tho[mas] Maunyngham, Two Discourses,...
2. To constitute and be the elements of (something).
   • His very soul was elemented of nothing but sadness. - 1658, Izaak Walton, Life of Donne:

Wikipedia

element