element
/ˈɛləmənt/ noun B1- 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.
- Any one of the types of atom distinguished by having a certain number of protons in its nucleus.
- 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.
- One of the four basic building blocks of matter in theories of ancient philosophers and alchemists: water, earth, fire, and air.
- A basic, simple substance out of which something is made, raw material.
- 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.
- One of the objects in a set.
- One of the entries of a matrix.
Plural elements
From the library
This child of the desert was in his element, and with his black face and sparkling eyes appeared, in the cloud of dust he raised, like the genius of the simoom and the god of the hurricane.
Contentment with our lot is an element of happiness.
By the end of the term Anne and Gilbert were both promoted into the fifth class and allowed to begin studying the elements of “the branches”--by which Latin, geometry, French, and algebra were meant.
There is a distinct element of danger.”
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