element
el.e.ment \'el-*-m*nt\ n [ME, fr. OF & L; OF, fr. L elementum] 1a: one of
the four substances (as air, water, fire, or earth) formerly bel ieved to
compose the physical universe pl 1b: weather conditions caused by
activities of the elements; esp : violent or severe weather 1c: the state
or sphere natural or suited to a person or thing 2: a constituent part :
as pl 2a: the simplest principles of a subject of study : RUDIMENTS 2b1:
a part of a geometric magnitude 2b2: a generator of a geometric figure
2b3: a basic member of a mathematical class or set 2c1: one of the
necessary data or values on which calculations or conclusio ns are based
2c2: one of the factors determining the outcome of a process 2d: any of
more than 100 fundamental substances that consist of atoms of on ly one
kind and that singly or in combination constitute all matter 2e: a distinct
part of a composite device 2f: a subdivision of a military unit 2g:
MEMBER pl 3: the bread and wine used in the Eucharist ELEMENT applies to
anything that is a part of a compound or complex whole and often connotes
irreducible simplicity; COMPONENT and CONSTITUENT may designate any of the
substances (whether elements or compounds) or the qualities that enter into
the makeup of a complex product; COMPONENT stresses its separate entity or
distinguishable character; CONSTITUENT stresses its essential and formative
character; INGREDIENT applies to any of the substances which when combined
form a particular mixture (as a medicine, an alloy); FACTOR applies to any
constituent or element whose presence helps actively to perform a certain
kind of work or produce a definite result SYN syn COMPONENT, CONSTITUENT,
INGREDIENT, FACTOR: