element
pronunciation
How to pronounce element in British English:
UK [ˈelɪmənt]
How to pronounce element in American English:
US [ˈelɪmənt]
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- Noun:
- an abstract part of something
- 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
- 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
- one of four substances thought in ancient and medieval cosmology to constitute the physical universe
- the most favorable environment for a plant or animal
- the situation in which you are happiest and most effective
- a straight line that generates a cylinder or cone
Word Origin
- element (n.)
- c. 1300, "earth, air, fire, or water; one of the four things regarded by the ancients as the constituents of all things," from Old French element (10c.), from Latin elementem "rudiment, first principle, matter in its most basic form" (translating Greek stoikheion), origin and original sense unknown. Meaning "simplest component of a complex substance" is late 14c. Modern sense in chemistry is from 1813, but is not essentially different from the ancient one. Meaning "proper or natural environment of anything" is from 1590s, from the old notion that each class of living beings had its natural abode in one of the four elements. Elements "atmospheric force" is 1550s.
Synonym
Example
- 1. This will be a key element of any deal .
- 2. The unknown element here is politics .
- 3. The common element in all three dilemmas is fear .
- 4. Water.up to 80 percent of shampoo is this basic element .
- 5. It should be mentioned that a soviet pc was not an exact copy of apple ii as domestic element base was used .