component

the essential factor; the all-important element; the supreme aim

a component or element of the plot of a story

(film) a plot element that catches the viewers' attention or drives the plot

a geometric element that has position but no extension

(physics) a point in the ideal multidimensional phase space that is used to describe a system toward which the system tends to evolve regardless of the starting conditions of the system

a point where lines intersect

the point at which a line intersects a coordinate axis

the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists

the substance of the body

the substance of a living cell (including cytoplasm and nucleus)

the chemical composition and properties of a substance or object

the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object

a hypothetical substance once believed to be present in all combustible materials and to be released during burning

(chemistry) a substance consisting of two or more substances mixed together (not in fixed proportions and not with chemical bonding)

(physics and chemistry) the smallest component of an element having the chemical properties of the element

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

(biology) any agency bringing about activation; a molecule that increases the activity of an enzyme or a protein that increases the production of a gene product in DNA transcription

the substance that is acted upon by an enzyme or ferment

one of four substances thought in ancient and medieval cosmology to constitute the physical universe

an intervening substance through which something is achieved

(biology) a substance in which specimens are preserved or displayed

a substance that is fluid at room temperature and pressure

a volatile substance; a substance that changes readily from solid or liquid to a vapor

any substance possessing to a high degree the predominant properties of a plant or drug or other natural product from which it is extracted

one of the natural units into which linguistic messages can be analyzed

extended verbal expression in speech or writing

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

a unit of spoken language larger than a phoneme

a minimal unit (as a word or stem) in the lexicon of a language; `go' and `went' and `gone' and `going' are all members of the English lexeme `go'

minimal meaningful language unit; it cannot be divided into smaller meaningful units

minimal language unit that has a syntactic (or morphological) function

a language unit by which a person or thing is known

a grouping of words in a sentence

(phonetics) an individual sound unit of speech without concern as to whether or not it is a phoneme of some language

a fundamental linguistic unit linking a signifier to that which is signified

a distinct part that can be specified separately in a group of things that could be enumerated on a list

one of the items to be considered

an item that is incidental

an item listed in an inventory

an item in an appropriation bill

an item in a newspaper

an item on a list or in a sequence

the part of a plant from which the roots spring or the part of a stalk or trunk nearest the roots

the most important or necessary part of something

a small part that can be considered separately from the whole

the most interesting or memorable part

an individual or group or structure or other entity regarded as a structural or functional constituent of a whole

anything that belongs to a set or class

something left after other parts have been taken away

a small part or portion that remains after the main part no longer exists

a part of a part

a supplementary component that improves capability

an accessory for an automobile

an accessory for a computer

a small and often standardized accessory to a larger system

the accessories that normally accompany (something or some activity)

a component that is added to something to improve it

something added to enhance food or gasoline or paint or medicine

an addition that was not included in the original plan

an addition that extends a main building

a supplementary part or accessory

an addition to the length of something

the sound elements of television

a component of an automobile

a crystalline element used as a component in various electronic devices

a crystal that can be used as a transducer

(computer science) the mechanical, magnetic, electronic, and electrical components making up a computer system

(computer science) the part of a computer (a microprocessor chip) that does most of the data processing

an electronic memory device

computer hardware that arranges jobs to be done by the computer in an appropriate order

computer hardware that sorts data or programs into a predetermined sequence

hardware that provides better performance than an earlier version did

the component of a heater or range that transforms fuel or electricity into heat

a heating element in an electric fire

the heating elements of a stove or range on which pots and pans are placed for cooking

a heating element that is immersed in the liquid that is to be heated (as in a hot-water tank)

a component of a mixture or compound

an additional ingredient that is added by mixing with the base

the principal ingredient of a mixture

a component of production; something that goes into the production of output

component consisting of a side piece opposite the moldboard

(usually plural) the components needed for making or doing something

a self-contained component (unit or item) that is used in combination with other components

a module designed to be inserted into a larger piece of equipment

module that provides power to operate other modules

(computer science) the smallest discrete component of an image or picture on a CRT screen (usually a colored dot)

a component or accessory added to something after it has been manufactured

an extra component of a machine or other apparatus

a component of an ignition system; consists of two shaped electrodes and the space between them