component
Other forms: components
It's the Ikea curse: You spend four hours figuring out how to piece together your new furniture, only to be left with one random component, or part, that doesn't seem to fit anywhere.
It's not surprising that component is related to a Latin word that means "to put together." You simply can't put something together without all of the correct components. Technically speaking, a component is an element of a system or a part of a machine. But a component can also be a factor or ingredient, such as the components of a decision or the components of a really good chocolate cake.
Definitions of component
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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”
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synonyms:
constituent, element
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types:
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accessory, add-on, appurtenance, supplement
a supplementary component that improves capability
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add-on, addition, improver
a component that is added to something to improve it
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audio
the sound elements of television
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auto part, car part
a component of an automobile
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crystal
a crystalline element used as a component in various electronic devices
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computer hardware, hardware
(computer science) the mechanical, magnetic, electronic, and electrical components making up a computer system
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heating element
the component of a heater or range that transforms fuel or electricity into heat
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ingredient
a component of a mixture or compound
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input
a component of production; something that goes into the production of output
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landside
component consisting of a side piece opposite the moldboard
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making
(usually plural) the components needed for making or doing something
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module
a self-contained component (unit or item) that is used in combination with other components
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pel, picture element, pixel
(computer science) the smallest discrete component of an image or picture on a CRT screen (usually a colored dot)
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retrofit
a component or accessory added to something after it has been manufactured
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spare, spare part
an extra component of a machine or other apparatus
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spark gap
a component of an ignition system; consists of two shaped electrodes and the space between them
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additive
something added to enhance food or gasoline or paint or medicine
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admixture, intermixture
an additional ingredient that is added by mixing with the base
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afterthought
an addition that was not included in the original plan
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annex, annexe, extension, wing
an addition that extends a main building
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attachment
a supplementary part or accessory
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auto accessory
an accessory for an automobile
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bar
a heating element in an electric fire
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base
the principal ingredient of a mixture
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burner
the heating elements of a stove or range on which pots and pans are placed for cooking
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cartridge
a module designed to be inserted into a larger piece of equipment
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C.P.U., CPU, central processing unit, central processor, mainframe, processor
(computer science) the part of a computer (a microprocessor chip) that does most of the data processing
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computer accessory
an accessory for a computer
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elongation, extension
an addition to the length of something
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fitting
a small and often standardized accessory to a larger system
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fixings, trimmings
the accessories that normally accompany (something or some activity)
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immersion heater
a heating element that is immersed in the liquid that is to be heated (as in a hot-water tank)
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computer memory, computer storage, memory, memory board, storage, store
an electronic memory device
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piezoelectric crystal
a crystal that can be used as a transducer
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power module
module that provides power to operate other modules
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scheduler
computer hardware that arranges jobs to be done by the computer in an appropriate order
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sequencer
computer hardware that sorts data or programs into a predetermined sequence
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upgrade
hardware that provides better performance than an earlier version did
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addendum
a thing that is added or will be added
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an abstract part of something“jealousy was a component of his character”
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synonyms:
constituent, element, factor, ingredient
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types:
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be all and end all, be-all and end-all
the essential factor; the all-important element; the supreme aim
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plot element
a component or element of the plot of a story
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point
a geometric element that has position but no extension
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counterpoint
an element, idea, or argument used to create a contrast
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MacGuffin, McGuffin
(film) a plot element that catches the viewers' attention or drives the plot
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attracter, attractor
(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
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intersection, intersection point, point of intersection
a point where lines intersect
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intercept
the point at which a line intersects a coordinate axis
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something determined in relation to something that includes it“the smaller component is hard to reach”
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synonyms:
component part, constituent, moiety, part, portion
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types:
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substance
the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists
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language unit, linguistic unit
one of the natural units into which linguistic messages can be analyzed
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item, point
a distinct part that can be specified separately in a group of things that could be enumerated on a list
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butt
the part of a plant from which the roots spring or the part of a stalk or trunk nearest the roots
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base, basis
the most important or necessary part of something
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detail, item, particular
a small part that can be considered separately from the whole
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unit
an individual or group or structure or other entity regarded as a structural or functional constituent of a whole
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member
anything that belongs to a set or class
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balance, remainder, residual, residue, residuum, rest
something left after other parts have been taken away
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subpart
a part of a part
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dregs
the most worthless or undesirable part of something
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body substance
the substance of the body
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living substance, protoplasm
the substance of a living cell (including cytoplasm and nucleus)
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discourse
extended verbal expression in speech or writing
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word
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
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syllable
a unit of spoken language larger than a phoneme
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lexeme
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'
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morpheme
minimal meaningful language unit; it cannot be divided into smaller meaningful units
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formative
minimal language unit that has a syntactic (or morphological) function
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name
a language unit by which a person or thing is known
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agenda item
one of the items to be considered
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incidental
an item that is incidental
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inventory item
an item listed in an inventory
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line item
an item in an appropriation bill
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news item
an item in a newspaper
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place, position
an item on a list or in a sequence
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collocation
a grouping of words in a sentence
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phone, sound, speech sound
(phonetics) an individual sound unit of speech without concern as to whether or not it is a phoneme of some language
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sign
a fundamental linguistic unit linking a signifier to that which is signified
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high spot, highlight
the most interesting or memorable part
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dregs, leftover, remnant
a small part or portion that remains after the main part no longer exists
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chemistry
the chemical composition and properties of a substance or object
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material, stuff
the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object
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phlogiston
a hypothetical substance once believed to be present in all combustible materials and to be released during burning
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mixture
(chemistry) a substance consisting of two or more substances mixed together (not in fixed proportions and not with chemical bonding)
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atom
(physics and chemistry) the smallest component of an element having the chemical properties of the element
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chemical element, 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
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activator
(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
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substrate
the substance that is acted upon by an enzyme or ferment
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element
one of four substances thought in ancient and medieval cosmology to constitute the physical universe
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medium
an intervening substance through which something is achieved
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medium
(biology) a substance in which specimens are preserved or displayed
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fluid
a substance that is fluid at room temperature and pressure
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volatile
a volatile substance; a substance that changes readily from solid or liquid to a vapor
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essence
any substance possessing to a high degree the predominant properties of a plant or drug or other natural product from which it is extracted
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accent
a detail or feature that adds visual emphasis to or contrasts with its surroundings
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type of:
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relation
an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of two entities or parts together
Pronunciation
US
/kəmˈpoʊnənt/
UK
/kəmˈpəʊnənt/
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘component'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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Word Family
Vocabulary lists containing component
Witchlings
To seal their coven, keep their magic, and avoid being turned into toads, twelve-year-old Seven Salazar of Ravenskill must work with the bully Valley Pepperhorn and the new girl Thorn Laroux to defeat the Nightbeast.
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Review terms and concepts that are likely to appear on the SAT Math Test.
Common Core Grades 11–12, List 7
Vocabulary is key to performing well on Common Core-aligned tests for English Language Arts as well as for building literacy in social studies, science, and technical subjects. This collection features common tier-2 words that are taught and tested in Grades 11 and 12. These words are used in a variety of contexts, exhibit different shades of meaning based on those contexts, and appear commonly in classroom instruction and on standardized assessments. Here are links to our lists for the collection: List 1, List 2, List 3, List 4, List 5, List 6, List 7
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