Elements

el·e·ment / ˈeləmənt/ • n. 1. a part or aspect of something abstract, esp. one that is essential or characteristic: the death had all the elements of a great tabloid story. ∎  a small but significant presence of a feeling or abstract quality: it was the element of danger he loved in flying. ∎  (elements) the rudiments of a branch of knowledge: legal training may include the elements of economics and political science. ∎  (often elements) a group of people of a particular kind within a larger group or organization: extreme right-wing elements in the army. ∎  Math. & Logic an entity that is a single member of a set. 2. (also chemical element) each of more than one hundred substances that cannot be chemically interconverted or broken down into simpler substances and are primary constituents of matter. Each element is distinguished by its atomic number, i.e., the number of protons in the nuclei of its atoms. ∎  any of the four substances (earth, water, air, and fire) regarded as the fundamental constituents of the world in ancient and medieval philosophy. ∎  one of these substances considered as a person's or animal's natural environment: for the islanders, the sea is their kingdom, water their element fig. she was in her element with doctors and hospitals. ∎  (the elements) the weather, esp. strong winds, heavy rain, and other kinds of bad weather: there was no barrier against the elements. ∎  (elements) (in church use) the bread and wine of the Eucharist. 3. a part in an electric teapot, heater, or stove that contains a wire through which an electric current is passed to provide heat. ∎ on some electric typewriters, a ball with raised letters that print when the keys are pressed.

element any of the four substances (earth, water, air, and fire) regarded as the fundamental constituents of the world in ancient and medieval philosophy. The word is recorded from Middle English (denoting fundamental constituents of the world or celestial objects) and comes via Old French from Latin elementum ‘principle, rudiment’, translating Greek stoikheion ‘step, component part’.

In late Middle English, elements denoted the letters of the alphabet; from this developed the sense of the rudiments of learning, the first principles of a subject.

From the mid 16th century, element (usually in plural) has also denoted the bread or wine used in the Christian Eucharist.

element Substance that cannot be split into simpler substances by chemical means. All atoms of a given element have the same atomic number (at.no.) and thus the same number of protons and electrons. The atoms can have different atomic mass numbers and a natural sample of an element is generally a mixture of isotopes. The known elements range from hydrogen (at.no. 1) to unnilenium (at.no. 109); elements of the first 95 atomic numbers exist in nature, the higher numbers have been synthesized. See also periodic table

element one of the four constituents of the universe (earth, water, air, fire) XIII (whence ult. the use in mod. chem. XIX); constituent portion; pl. rudiments XIV. — (O)F. élément — L. elementum esp. pl. principles, rudiments, letters of the alphabet (used to tr. Gr. stoikheîon step, base, element, etc.), of unkn. orig.
Hence elemental XV. So elementary XVII (earlier elementare XIV, -air XVI). — L. elementārius.

ELEMENT

A material factor; a basic component.

The term is used to mean one of several parts that unite to form a whole, as in elements of a criminal action or civil action. In the tort of assault and battery, an essential element of the offense would be unwanted physical contact. An element of the crime of rape is lack of consent on the part of the victim.

Elements.
1. In Christianity, the materials of bread and wine used in the eucharist.

2. In Hinduism, the components and forces which constitute the universe: see BHŪTA.

3. In Buddhism, constituents of appearance, dharma (2).

element
1. of a set. Another name for member.

2. See logic element.

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