element

plural elements

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.

   1 more example

   The simplicity which is so large an element in a noble nature was laughed to scorn.

   1881, Benjamin Jowett, Thucydides

   1. chemistryAny 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 www.duckster.com, archived from the original on 15 Jul 2013

      Synonyms: chemical element

   2. chemistryA 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

   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. plural normallyA 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 First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act I, scene ii

   5. lawA 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. mathematicsOne 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, Oxfordshire: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page xi

      Synonyms: member

   7. mathematicsOne 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

   1 more example

   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 Pulling the Strings

4. A factor, one of the conditions contributing to a result.
5. obsoleteThe 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 Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by John Osborn, […], →OCLC

6. obsoleteAny one of the heavenly spheres believed to carry the celestial bodies in premodern cosmology.
7. in pluralwith definite articleAtmospheric 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. plural normallyChristianityThe 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. in pluralThe 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.

    1 more example

    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 28, “High-Voltage Electric Locomotive for British Railways”, in Railway Magazine, page 125

13. mathematicsAn infinitesimal interval of a quantity, a differential.

    The element of area in Cartesian coordinates is dx dy.

14. astronomyAn orbital element; one of the parameters needed to uniquely specify a particular orbit.
15. computingOne of the conceptual objects in a markup language, usually represented in text by tags.

    The div element was introduced into HTML as a solution to the layout problem.

    2011, Richard Wagner, Creating Web Pages All-in-One For Dummies

present singular third person elements · participle present elementing · participle past elemented · past elemented

1. obsoletetransitiveTo compound (something) out of elements.

   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

   2 more examples

   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”, in Poems, […] with Elegies on the Authors Death, London: […] M[iles] F[lesher] for Iohn Marriot, […], published 1633, →OCLC, page 194

   [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, London: Will[iam] Cademan, page 89

2. obsoletetransitiveTo constitute and be the elements of (something).

   His very soul was elemented of nothing but sadness.

   1658, Izaak Walton, Life of Donne