element

element
element [el′ə mənt]
n.
[ME < OFr < L elementum, first principle, element]
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: often in the phrase in (or out of) one's element
4.
a) a component part or quality, often one that is basic or essential [a good story has an element of suspense]
b) a constituent group of a specified kind [the criminal element in a city]
c) a determining factor
d) 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 5)
8. [pl.] Eccles. the bread and wine of Communion
9. Elec.
a) any device with terminals at which it can be connected with other electrical devices
b) the wire coil that becomes glowing hot, as in an electric oven
10. Math.
a) an infinitesimal part of any magnitude; differential
b) the point, line, etc. that generates a line, surface, etc.
c) 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
——————
the elements
1. the first or basic principles; rudiments
2. wind, rain, and the other forces of nature that make the weather
SYN.- 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 ]

English World dictionary. . 2014.

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  • Element — Element …   Deutsch Wörterbuch

  • élément — [ elemɑ̃ ] n. m. • Xe; « doctrine » fin IXe; lat. elementum I ♦ Partie constitutive d une chose. 1 ♦ Chacune des choses dont la combinaison, la réunion forme une autre chose. ⇒ 2. composant, composante, ingrédient, morceau, partie. Les éléments d …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Element — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Element Skateboards Eslogan Wind, Water, Fire, and Earth Tipo Pública Fundación 1992 Sede …   Wikipedia Español

  • element — ELEMÉNT, elemente, s.n. şi (rar) elemenţi, s.m. 1. Parte componentă a unui întreg; parte care contribuie la formarea unui întreg. ♦ Piesă sau ansamblu de piese care formează o construcţie. ♦ s.m. spec. Fiecare dintre piesele componente ale unui… …   Dicționar Român

  • element — ELEMENT. s. m. Corps simple qui entre dans la composition des corps mixtes. Les quatre elements. l element du feu. l element de l eau. l element de l air. l element de la terre. element chaud & sec. element froid & humide &c. l impureté des… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Element — El e*ment, n. [F. [ e]l[ e]ment, L. elementum.] 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. [1913 Webster] 2. One of the ultimate …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • élément — ÉLÉMENT. s. m. Corps simple qui entre dans la composition des corps mixtes. Les quatre élémens. L élément du feu. L élément de l eau. L élément de l air. L élément de la terre. Élément chaud et sec. Élément froid et humide, etc. Le mélange des… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • Element — (lat. elementum „Grundstoff“) bezeichnet: Element (Mathematik), einen mengentheoretischen Begriff: ein Objekt aus einer Menge Chemisches Element, einen chemisch nicht weiter trennbaren Stoff eines der vier Elemente in der antiken Naturphilosophie …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Elément — Élément Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Sommaire 1 Philosophie 2 Cinéma 3 M …   Wikipédia en Français

  • element — elèment m <G mn nātā> DEFINICIJA 1. pov. fil. jedno od četiriju počela (stihije) svijeta (vatra, zemlja, voda, zrak); počelo 2. kem. tvar koja se kemijskim putem ne može rastaviti na jednostavnije sastojke, sastoji se samo od istovrsnih… …   Hrvatski jezični portal

  • Element — (marque) Pour les articles homonymes, voir Élément. Element est une marque de skateboard créée en 1992. Le pro skateur qui y est généralement associé est Bam Margera. Parmi les autres skateurs célèbres roulant pour Element, citons Mike Vallely,… …   Wikipédia en Français

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