Adjacent Words

Element definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

EL'EMENT, n. [L. elementus.]
1. The first or constituent principle or minutest part or any thing; as the elements of earth, water, salt, or wood; the elements of the world; the elements of animal or vegetable bodies. So letters are called the elements of language.
2. An ingredient; a constituent part of any composition.
3. In a chimical sense, an atom; the minutest particle of a substance; that which cannot be divided by chimical analysis, and therefore considered as a simple substance, as oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, etc.
An element is strictly the last result of chimical analysis; that which cannot be decomposed by any means now employed.
An atom is the last result of mechanical division; that which cannot be any farther divided, without decomposition; hence there may be both elementary and compound atoms.
4. In the plural, the first rules or principles of an art or science; rudiments; as the elements of geometry; the elements of music; the elements of painting; the elements of a theory.
5. In popular language, fire,air, earth and water, are called the four elements, as formerly it was supposed that these are simple bodies,of which the world is composed. Later discoveries prove air, earth and water to be compound bodies,and fire to be only the extrication of light and heat during combustion.
6. Element, in the singular, is sometimes used for the air.
7. The substance which forms the natural or most suitable habitation of an animal. Water is the proper element of fishes; air, of man. Hence,
8. The proper state or sphere of any thing; the state of things suited to one's temper or habits. Faction is the element of a demagogue.
9. The matter or substances which compose the world.
The elements shall melt with fervent heat. 2 Peter 3.
10. The outline or sketch; as the elements of a plan.
11. Moving cause or principle; that which excites action.
Passions, the elements of life.
EL'EMENT, v.t. To compound of elements or first principles.
1. To constitute; to make as a first principle.
[This word is rarely or never used.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: an abstract part of something; "jealousy was a component of his character"; "two constituents of a musical composition are melody and harmony"; "the grammatical elements of a sentence"; "a key factor in her success"; "humor: an effective ingredient of a speech" [syn: component, constituent, element, factor, ingredient]
2: an artifact that is one of the individual parts of which a composite entity is made up; especially a part that can be separated from or attached to a system; "spare components for cars"; "a component or constituent element of a system" [syn: component, constituent, element]
3: any of the more than 100 known substances (of which 92 occur naturally) that cannot be separated into simpler substances and that singly or in combination constitute all matter [syn: chemical element, element]
4: the most favorable environment for a plant or animal; "water is the element of fishes"
5: one of four substances thought in ancient and medieval cosmology to constitute the physical universe; "the alchemists believed that there were four elements"
6: the situation in which you are happiest and most effective; "in your element"
7: a straight line that generates a cylinder or cone

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin elementum Date: 13th century 1. a. any of the four substances air, water, fire, and earth formerly believed to compose the physical universe b. plural weather conditions; especially violent or severe weather <battling the elements> c. the state or sphere natural or suited to a person or thing <at school she was in her element> 2. a constituent part: as a. plural the simplest principles of a subject of study ; rudiments b. (1) a part of a geometric magnitude <an infinitesimal element of volume> (2) a generator of a geometric figure; also a line or line segment contained in the surface of a cone or cylinder (3) a basic member of a mathematical or logical class or set (4) one of the individual entries in a mathematical matrix or determinant c. a distinct group within a larger group or community <the criminal element in the city> d. (1) one of the necessary data or values on which calculations or conclusions are based (2) one of the factors determining the outcome of a process e. any of the fundamental substances that consist of atoms of only one kind and that singly or in combination constitute all matter f. a distinct part of a composite device g. a subdivision of a military unit 3. plural the bread and wine used in the Eucharist Synonyms: element, component, constituent, ingredient mean one of the parts of a compound or complex whole. element applies to any such part and often connotes irreducible simplicity <the basic elements of geometry>. 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 <the components of a stereo system>. constituent stresses its essential and formative character <the constituents of a chemical compound>. ingredient applies to any of the substances which when combined form a particular mixture <the ingredients of a cocktail>.

U.S. Military Dictionary

An organization formed around a specific function within a designated directorate of a joint force commander's headquarters. The subordinate components of an element usually are functional cells. (JP 3-33)

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a component part; a contributing factor or thing. 2 Chem. & Physics any of the hundred or so substances that cannot be resolved by chemical means into simpler substances. 3 a any of the four substances (earth, water, air, and fire) in ancient and medieval philosophy. b any of these as a being's natural abode or environment. 4 Electr. a resistance wire that heats up in an electric heater, cooker, etc.; an electrode. 5 (in pl.) atmospheric agencies, esp. wind and storm. 6 (in pl.) the rudiments of learning or of a branch of knowledge. 7 (in pl.) the bread and wine of the Eucharist. 8 Math. & Logic an entity that is a single member of a set. Phrases and idioms: in (or out of) one's element in (or out of) one's accustomed or preferred surroundings. reduced to its elements analysed. Etymology: ME f. OF f. L elementum

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Voltaic Vol*ta"ic, a. [Cf. F. volta["i]que, It. voltaico.] 1. Of or pertaining to Alessandro Volta, who first devised apparatus for developing electric currents by chemical action, and established this branch of electric science; discovered by Volta; as, voltaic electricity. 2. Of or pertaining to voltaism, or voltaic electricity; as, voltaic induction; the voltaic arc. Note: See the Note under Galvanism. Voltaic arc, a luminous arc, of intense brilliancy, formed between carbon points as electrodes by the passage of a powerful voltaic current. Voltaic battery, an apparatus variously constructed, consisting of a series of plates or pieces of dissimilar metals, as copper and zinc, arranged in pairs, and subjected to the action of a saline or acid solution, by which a current of electricity is generated whenever the two poles, or ends of the series, are connected by a conductor; a galvanic battery. See Battery, 4. (b), and Note. Voltaic circuit. See under Circuit. Voltaic couple or element, a single pair of the connected plates of a battery. Voltaic electricity. See the Note under Electricity. Voltaic pile, a kind of voltaic battery consisting of alternate disks of dissimilar metals, separated by moistened cloth or paper. See 5th Pile. Voltaic protection of metals, the protection of a metal exposed to the corrosive action of sea water, saline or acid liquids, or the like, by associating it with a metal which is positive to it, as when iron is galvanized, or coated with zinc.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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. 2. One of the ultimate, undecomposable constituents of any kind of matter. Specifically: (Chem.) A substance which cannot be decomposed into different kinds of matter by any means at present employed; as, the elements of water are oxygen and hydrogen. Note: The elements are naturally classified in several families or groups, as the group of the alkaline elements, the halogen group, and the like. They are roughly divided into two great classes, the metals, as sodium, calcium, etc., which form basic compounds, and the nonmetals or metalloids, as oxygen, sulphur, chlorine, which form acid compounds; but the distinction is only relative, and some, as arsenic, tin, aluminium, etc., form both acid and basic compounds. The essential fact regarding every element is its relative atomic weight or equivalent. When the elements are tabulated in the order of their ascending atomic weights, the arrangement constitutes the series of the Periodic law of Mendelejeff. See Periodic law, under Periodic. This Periodic law enables us to predict the qualities of unknown elements. The number of elements known is about seventy-five, but the gaps in the Periodic law indicate the possibility of many more. Many of the elements with which we are familiar, as hydrogen, carbon, iron, gold, etc., have been recognized, by means of spectrum analysis, in the sun and the fixed stars. From certain evidence (as that afforded by the Periodic law, spectrum analysis, etc.) it appears that the chemical elements probably may not be simple bodies, but only very stable compounds of some simpler body or bodies. In formulas, the elements are designated by abbreviations of their names in Latin or New Latin. The Elements ------------------------------------------------------------ Name |Sym-|Atomic Weight| |bol | O=16 | H=1 | ------------------------------------------------------------ Aluminum | Al | 27.1 | 26.9| Antimony(Stibium) Argon Arsenic Barium Beryllium (see Glucinum) Bismuth Boron Bromine Cadmium Caesium Calcium Carbon Cerium Chlorine Chromium Cobalt Columbium Copper (Cuprum) Erbium Fluorine Gadolinium Gallium Germanium Glucinum

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Element El"e*ment ([e^]l"[-e]*m[e^]nt), v. t. 1. To compound of elements or first principles. [Obs.] ``[Love] being elemented too.'' --Donne. 2. To constitute; to make up with elements. His very soul was elemented of nothing but sadness. --Walton.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(elements) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. The different elements of something are the different parts it contains. The exchange of prisoners of war was one of the key elements of the UN's peace plan. = constituent, component N-COUNT: usu pl, usu with supp 2. A particular element of a situation, activity, or process is an important quality or feature that it has or needs. Fitness has now become an important element in our lives. = factor N-COUNT: with supp 3. When you talk about elements within a society or organization, you are referring to groups of people who have similar aims, beliefs, or habits. ...criminal elements within the security forces. ...the hooligan element. N-COUNT: usu pl, supp N 4. If something has an element of a particular quality or emotion, it has a certain amount of this quality or emotion. These reports clearly contain elements of propaganda. N-COUNT: usu sing, N of n 5. An element is a substance such as gold, oxygen, or carbon that consists of only one type of atom. ? compound N-COUNT 6. The element in an electric fire or water heater is the metal part which changes the electric current into heat. N-COUNT: usu sing 7. You can refer to the weather, especially wind and rain, as the elements. The area where most refugees are waiting is exposed to the elements. N-PLURAL: the N 8. If you say that someone is in their element, you mean that they are in a situation they enjoy. My stepmother was in her element, organizing everything... PHRASE: v-link PHR

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. simple body, uncompounded body, ultimate part. 2. Constituent, component, ingredient, constituent principle, component part. 3. Proper state, proper sphere, natural medium, vital air. 4. [In pl.] Rudiments, first steps or principles, outlines, essential parts.

Moby Thesaurus

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