element
Other forms: elements
An element is something basic and important — in chemistry, an element is one of the essential molecules that everything else is made of. If a book's ending carries an "element of surprise," it means surprise is an important part of the story's end.
One of the earliest meanings of this noun was in reference to any of four substances — earth, air, fire, or water — that were formerly regarded as a basic constituent of the universe. When you're "in your element," it means you're enjoying yourself because what you're doing is basic and important to you. Stand-up comics are in their element when they're performing to a crowd who loves them.
Definitions of 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
-
synonyms:
chemical element
-
types:
- show 149 types...
- hide 149 types...
-
allotrope
a structurally different form of an element
-
transuranic element
any element having an atomic number greater than 92 (which is the atomic number of uranium); all are radioactive
-
argonon, inert gas, noble gas
any of the chemically inert gaseous elements of the helium group in the periodic table
-
metal, metallic element
any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.
-
nonmetal
a chemical element lacking typical metallic properties
-
transactinide
any of the artificially produced elements with atomic numbers greater than 103
-
Ac, actinium, atomic number 89
a radioactive element of the actinide series; found in uranium ores
-
Ar, argon, atomic number 18
a colorless and odorless inert gas; one of the six inert gases; comprises approximately 1% of the earth's atmosphere
-
As, arsenic, atomic number 33
a very poisonous metallic element that has three allotropic forms; arsenic and arsenic compounds are used as herbicides and insecticides and various alloys; found in arsenopyrite and orpiment and realgar
-
At, astatine, atomic number 85
a highly unstable radioactive element (the heaviest of the halogen series); a decay product of uranium and thorium
-
Bh, atomic number 107, bohrium, element 107
a transuranic element
-
B, atomic number 5, boron
a trivalent metalloid element; occurs both in a hard black crystal and in the form of a yellow or brown powder
-
Br, atomic number 35, bromine
a nonmetallic heavy volatile corrosive dark brown liquid element belonging to the halogens; found in sea water
-
C, atomic number 6, carbon
an abundant nonmetallic tetravalent element occurring in three allotropic forms: amorphous carbon and graphite and diamond; occurs in all organic compounds
-
Cl, atomic number 17, chlorine
a common nonmetallic element belonging to the halogens; best known as a heavy yellow irritating toxic gas; used to purify water and as a bleaching agent and disinfectant; occurs naturally only as a salt (as in sea water)
-
Ds, atomic number 110, darmstadtium, element 110
a radioactive transuranic element
-
Db, atomic number 105, dubnium, element 105, hahnium
a transuranic element
-
F, atomic number 9, fluorine
a nonmetallic univalent element belonging to the halogens; usually a yellow irritating toxic flammable gas; a powerful oxidizing agent; recovered from fluorite or cryolite or fluorapatite
-
Ge, atomic number 32, germanium
a brittle grey crystalline element that is a semiconducting metalloid (resembling silicon) used in transistors; occurs in germanite and argyrodite
-
Hs, atomic number 108, element 108, hassium
a radioactive transuranic element
-
He, atomic number 2, helium
a very light colorless element that is one of the six inert gasses; the most difficult gas to liquefy; occurs in economically extractable amounts in certain natural gases (as those found in Texas and Kansas)
-
H, atomic number 1, hydrogen
a nonmetallic univalent element that is normally a colorless and odorless highly flammable diatomic gas; the simplest and lightest and most abundant element in the universe
-
I, atomic number 53, iodin, iodine
a nonmetallic element belonging to the halogens; used especially in medicine and photography and in dyes; occurs naturally only in combination in small quantities (as in sea water or rocks)
-
Kr, atomic number 36, krypton
a colorless element that is one of the six inert gasses; occurs in trace amounts in air
-
Lr, atomic number 103, lawrencium
a radioactive transuranic element synthesized from californium
-
Mt, atomic number 109, element 109, meitnerium
a radioactive transuranic element
-
Md, Mv, atomic number 101, mendelevium
a radioactive transuranic element synthesized by bombarding einsteinium with alpha particles (Md is the current symbol for mendelevium but Mv was formerly the symbol)
-
Ne, atomic number 10, neon
a colorless odorless gaseous element that give a red glow in a vacuum tube; one of the six inert gasses; occurs in the air in small amounts
-
N, atomic number 7, nitrogen
a common nonmetallic element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless inert diatomic gas; constitutes 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume; a constituent of all living tissues
-
No, atomic number 102, nobelium
a radioactive transuranic element synthesized by bombarding curium with carbon ions; 7 isotopes are known
-
O, atomic number 8, oxygen
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
-
P, atomic number 15, phosphorus
a multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cells; is highly reactive and occurs in several allotropic forms
-
Pu, atomic number 94, plutonium
a solid silvery grey radioactive transuranic element whose atoms can be split when bombarded with neutrons; found in minute quantities in uranium ores but is usually synthesized in nuclear reactors; 13 isotopes are known with the most important being plutonium 239
-
Rn, atomic number 86, radon
a radioactive gaseous element formed by the disintegration of radium; the heaviest of the inert gasses; occurs naturally (especially in areas over granite) and is considered a hazard to health
-
Rg, atomic number 111, element 111, roentgenium
a radioactive transuranic element
-
Rf, Unq, atomic number 104, element 104, rutherfordium, unnilquadium
a radioactive transuranic element which has been synthesized
-
Sg, atomic number 106, element 106, seaborgium
a transuranic element
-
Se, atomic number 34, selenium
a toxic nonmetallic element related to sulfur and tellurium; occurs in several allotropic forms; a stable grey metallike allotrope conducts electricity better in the light than in the dark and is used in photocells; occurs in sulfide ores (as pyrite)
-
Si, atomic number 14, silicon
a tetravalent nonmetallic element; next to oxygen it is the most abundant element in the earth's crust; occurs in clay and feldspar and granite and quartz and sand; used as a semiconductor in transistors
-
S, atomic number 16, sulfur, sulphur
an abundant tasteless odorless multivalent nonmetallic element; best known in yellow crystals; occurs in many sulphide and sulphate minerals and even in native form (especially in volcanic regions)
-
Te, atomic number 52, tellurium
a brittle silver-white metalloid element that is related to selenium and sulfur; it is used in alloys and as a semiconductor; occurs mainly as tellurides in ores of copper and nickel and silver and gold
-
Uub, atomic number 112, element 112, ununbium
a radioactive transuranic element
-
Uuh, atomic number 116, element 116, ununhexium
a radioactive transuranic element
-
Uup, atomic number 115, element 115, ununpentium
a radioactive transuranic element
-
Uuq, atomic number 114, element 114, ununquadium
a radioactive transuranic element
-
Uut, atomic number 113, element 113, ununtrium
a radioactive transuranic element
-
Xe, atomic number 54, xenon
a colorless odorless inert gaseous element occurring in the earth's atmosphere in trace amounts
-
trace element
an element that occurs at very small quantities in the body but is nonetheless important for many biological processes
-
metalloid
a nonmetallic element that has some of the properties of metal
-
tritium
a radioactive isotope of hydrogen; atoms of tritium have three times the mass of ordinary hydrogen atoms
-
heavy metal
a metal of relatively high density (specific gravity greater than about 5) or of high relative atomic weight (especially one that is poisonous like mercury or lead)
-
base metal
a metal that is common and not considered precious
-
fullerene
a form of carbon having a large molecule consisting of an empty cage of sixty or more carbon atoms
-
noble metal
any metal that is resistant to corrosion or oxidation
-
Al, aluminium, aluminum, atomic number 13
a silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite
-
Am, americium, atomic number 95
a radioactive transuranic metallic element; discovered by bombarding uranium with helium atoms
-
Sb, antimony, atomic number 51
a metallic element having four allotropic forms; used in a wide variety of alloys; found in stibnite
-
Ar, argon, atomic number 18
a colorless and odorless inert gas; one of the six inert gases; comprises approximately 1% of the earth's atmosphere
-
Ba, atomic number 56, barium
a soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group; found in barite
-
Bk, atomic number 97, berkelium
a radioactive transuranic element; discovered by bombarding americium with helium
-
Be, atomic number 4, beryllium, glucinium
a light strong brittle grey toxic bivalent metallic element
-
Bi, atomic number 83, bismuth
a heavy brittle diamagnetic trivalent metallic element (resembles arsenic and antimony chemically); usually recovered as a by-product from ores of other metals
-
Cd, atomic number 48, cadmium
a soft bluish-white ductile malleable toxic bivalent metallic element; occurs in association with zinc ores
-
Ca, atomic number 20, calcium
a white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light; the fifth most abundant element in the earth's crust; an important component of most plants and animals
-
Cf, atomic number 98, californium
a radioactive transuranic element; discovered by bombarding curium with alpha particles
-
carbon 14, radiocarbon
a radioactive isotope of carbon
-
Ce, atomic number 58, cerium
a ductile grey metallic element of the lanthanide series; used in lighter flints; the most abundant of the rare-earth group
-
Cs, atomic number 55, caesium, cesium
a soft silver-white ductile metallic element (liquid at normal temperatures); the most electropositive and alkaline metal
-
radiochlorine
a radioactive isotope of chlorine
-
Cr, atomic number 24, chromium
a hard brittle multivalent metallic element; resistant to corrosion and tarnishing
-
Co, atomic number 27, cobalt
a hard ferromagnetic silver-white bivalent or trivalent metallic element; a trace element in plant and animal nutrition
-
Cu, atomic number 29, copper
a ductile malleable reddish-brown corrosion-resistant diamagnetic metallic element; occurs in various minerals but is the only metal that occurs abundantly in large masses; used as an electrical and thermal conductor
-
Cm, atomic number 96, curium
a radioactive transuranic metallic element; produced by bombarding plutonium with helium nuclei
-
Dy, atomic number 66, dysprosium
a trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; forms compounds that are highly magnetic
-
E, Es, atomic number 99, einsteinium
a radioactive transuranic element produced by bombarding plutonium with neutrons
-
Er, atomic number 68, erbium
a trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; occurs with yttrium
-
Eu, atomic number 63, europium
a bivalent and trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group
-
Fm, atomic number 100, fermium
a radioactive transuranic metallic element produced by bombarding plutonium with neutrons
-
Fr, atomic number 87, francium
a radioactive element of the alkali-metal group discovered as a disintegration product of actinium
-
Gd, atomic number 64, gadolinium
a ductile silvery-white ductile ferromagnetic trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group
-
Ga, atomic number 31, gallium
a rare silvery (usually trivalent) metallic element; brittle at low temperatures but liquid above room temperature; occurs in trace amounts in bauxite and zinc ores
-
Hf, atomic number 72, hafnium
a grey tetravalent metallic element that resembles zirconium chemically and is found in zirconium minerals; used in filaments for its ready emission of electrons
-
He, atomic number 2, helium
a very light colorless element that is one of the six inert gasses; the most difficult gas to liquefy; occurs in economically extractable amounts in certain natural gases (as those found in Texas and Kansas)
-
Ho, atomic number 67, holmium
a trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; occurs together with yttrium; forms highly magnetic compounds
-
In, atomic number 49, indium
a rare soft silvery metallic element; occurs in small quantities in sphalerite
-
iodine-131
heavy radioactive isotope of iodine with a half-life of 8 days; used in a sodium salt to diagnose thyroid disease and to treat goiter
-
iodine-125
light radioactive isotope of iodine with a half-life of 60 days; used as a tracer in thyroid studies and as a treatment for hyperthyroidism
-
Ir, atomic number 77, iridium
a heavy brittle metallic element of the platinum group; used in alloys; occurs in natural alloys with platinum or osmium
-
Fe, atomic number 26, iron
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
-
Kr, atomic number 36, krypton
a colorless element that is one of the six inert gasses; occurs in trace amounts in air
-
La, atomic number 57, lanthanum
a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth
-
Pb, atomic number 82, lead
a soft heavy toxic malleable metallic element; bluish white when freshly cut but tarnishes readily to dull grey
-
Li, atomic number 3, lithium
a soft silver-white univalent element of the alkali metal group; the lightest metal known; occurs in several minerals
-
Lu, atomic number 71, lutecium, lutetium
a trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; usually occurs in association with yttrium
-
Mg, atomic number 12, magnesium
a light silver-white ductile bivalent metallic element; in pure form it burns with brilliant white flame; occurs naturally only in combination (as in magnesite and dolomite and carnallite and spinel and olivine)
-
Mn, atomic number 25, manganese
a hard brittle grey polyvalent metallic element that resembles iron but is not magnetic; used in making steel; occurs in many minerals
-
Hg, atomic number 80, hydrargyrum, mercury, quicksilver
a heavy silvery toxic univalent and bivalent metallic element; the only metal that is liquid at ordinary temperatures
-
Mo, atomic number 42, molybdenum
a polyvalent metallic element that resembles chromium and tungsten in its properties; used to strengthen and harden steel
-
Nd, atomic number 60, neodymium
a yellow trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; occurs in monazite and bastnasite in association with cerium and lanthanum and praseodymium
-
Ne, atomic number 10, neon
a colorless odorless gaseous element that give a red glow in a vacuum tube; one of the six inert gasses; occurs in the air in small amounts
-
Np, atomic number 93, neptunium
a radioactive transuranic metallic element; found in trace amounts in uranium ores; a by-product of the production of plutonium
-
Ni, atomic number 28, nickel
a hard malleable ductile silvery metallic element that is resistant to corrosion; used in alloys; occurs in pentlandite and smaltite and garnierite and millerite
-
Nb, atomic number 41, niobium
a soft grey ductile metallic element used in alloys; occurs in niobite; formerly called columbium
-
azote
an obsolete name for nitrogen
-
Os, atomic number 76, osmium
a hard brittle blue-grey or blue-black metallic element that is one of the platinum metals; the heaviest metal known
-
LOX, liquid oxygen
a bluish translucent magnetic liquid obtained by compressing gaseous oxygen and then cooling it below its boiling point; used as an oxidizer in rocket propellants
-
Pd, atomic number 46, palladium
a silver-white metallic element of the platinum group that resembles platinum; occurs in some copper and nickel ores; does not tarnish at ordinary temperatures and is used (alloyed with gold) in jewelry
-
plutonium 239
a highly fissionable isotope of plutonium that is used in atomic weapons and as a reactor fuel; produced by irradiating uranium 238 with slow electrons
-
Po, atomic number 84, polonium
a radioactive metallic element that is similar to tellurium and bismuth; occurs in uranium ores but can be produced by bombarding bismuth with neutrons in a nuclear reactor
-
K, atomic number 19, potassium
a light soft silver-white metallic element of the alkali metal group; oxidizes rapidly in air and reacts violently with water; is abundant in nature in combined forms occurring in sea water and in carnallite and kainite and sylvite
-
Pr, atomic number 59, praseodymium
a soft yellowish-white trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; can be recovered from bastnasite or monazite by an ion-exchange process
-
Pm, atomic number 61, promethium
a soft silvery metallic element of the rare earth group having no stable isotope; was discovered in radioactive form as a fission product of uranium
-
Pa, atomic number 91, protactinium, protoactinium
a short-lived radioactive metallic element formed from uranium and disintegrating into actinium and then into lead
-
Ra, atomic number 88, radium
an intensely radioactive metallic element that occurs in minute amounts in uranium ores
-
Rn, atomic number 86, radon
a radioactive gaseous element formed by the disintegration of radium; the heaviest of the inert gasses; occurs naturally (especially in areas over granite) and is considered a hazard to health
-
Re, atomic number 75, rhenium
a rare heavy polyvalent metallic element that resembles manganese chemically and is used in some alloys; is obtained as a by-product in refining molybdenum
-
Rh, atomic number 45, rhodium
a white hard metallic element that is one of the platinum group and is found in platinum ores; used in alloys with platinum
-
Rb, atomic number 37, rubidium
a soft silvery metallic element of the alkali metal group; burns in air and reacts violently in water; occurs in carnallite and lepidolite and pollucite
-
Ru, atomic number 44, ruthenium
a rare polyvalent metallic element of the platinum group; it is found associated with platinum
-
Sm, atomic number 62, samarium
a grey lustrous metallic element of the rare earth group; is used in special alloys; occurs in monazite and bastnasite
-
Sc, atomic number 21, scandium
a white trivalent metallic element; sometimes classified in the rare earth group; occurs in the Scandinavian mineral thortveitite
-
Na, atomic number 11, sodium
a silvery soft waxy metallic element of the alkali metal group; occurs abundantly in natural compounds (especially in salt water); burns with a yellow flame and reacts violently in water; occurs in sea water and in the mineral halite (rock salt)
-
Sr, atomic number 38, strontium
a soft silver-white or yellowish metallic element of the alkali metal group; turns yellow in air; occurs in celestite and strontianite
-
Ta, atomic number 73, tantalum
a hard grey lustrous metallic element that is highly resistant to corrosion; occurs in niobite and fergusonite and tantalite
-
Tc, atomic number 43, technetium
a crystalline metallic element not found in nature; occurs as one of the fission products of uranium
-
Tb, atomic number 65, terbium
a metallic element of the rare earth group; used in lasers; occurs in apatite and monazite and xenotime and ytterbite
-
Tl, atomic number 81, thallium
a soft grey malleable metallic element that resembles tin but discolors on exposure to air; it is highly toxic and is used in rodent and insect poisons; occurs in zinc blende and some iron ores
-
Th, atomic number 90, thorium
a soft silvery-white tetravalent radioactive metallic element; isotope 232 is used as a power source in nuclear reactors; occurs in thorite and in monazite sands
-
Tm, atomic number 69, thulium
a soft silvery metallic element of the rare earth group; isotope 170 emits X-rays and is used in small portable X-ray machines; it occurs in monazite and apatite and xenotime
-
Sn, atomic number 50, tin
a silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion; used in many alloys and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion; obtained chiefly from cassiterite where it occurs as tin oxide
-
Ti, atomic number 22, titanium
a light strong grey lustrous corrosion-resistant metallic element used in strong lightweight alloys (as for airplane parts); the main sources are rutile and ilmenite
-
W, atomic number 74, tungsten, wolfram
a heavy grey-white metallic element; the pure form is used mainly in electrical applications; it is found in several ores including wolframite and scheelite
-
U, atomic number 92, uranium
a heavy toxic silvery-white radioactive metallic element; occurs in many isotopes; used for nuclear fuels and nuclear weapons
-
V, atomic number 23, vanadium
a soft silvery white toxic metallic element used in steel alloys; it occurs in several complex minerals including carnotite and vanadinite
-
Xe, atomic number 54, xenon
a colorless odorless inert gaseous element occurring in the earth's atmosphere in trace amounts
-
Yb, atomic number 70, ytterbium
a soft silvery metallic element; a rare earth of the lanthanide series; it occurs in gadolinite and monazite and xenotime
-
Y, atomic number 39, yttrium
a silvery metallic element that is common in rare-earth minerals; used in magnesium and aluminum alloys
-
Zn, atomic number 30, zinc
a bluish-white lustrous metallic element; brittle at ordinary temperatures but malleable when heated; used in a wide variety of alloys and in galvanizing iron; it occurs naturally as zinc sulphide in zinc blende
-
Zr, atomic number 40, zirconium
a lustrous grey strong metallic element resembling titanium; it is used in nuclear reactors as a neutron absorber; it occurs in baddeleyite but is obtained chiefly from zircon
-
char
a charred substance
-
charcoal, wood coal
a carbonaceous material obtained by heating wood or other organic matter in the absence of air
-
alkali metal, alkaline metal
any of the monovalent metals of group I of the periodic table (lithium or sodium or potassium or rubidium or cesium or francium)
-
alkaline earth, alkaline-earth metal
any of the bivalent metals of group II of the periodic table (calcium or strontium or barium or magnesium or beryllium)
-
brimstone, native sulfur, native sulphur
an old name for sulfur
-
carbon black, crock, lampblack, smut, soot
a black colloidal substance consisting wholly or principally of amorphous carbon and used to make pigments and ink
-
activated carbon, activated charcoal
powdered or granular carbon used for purifying by adsorption; given orally (as a slurry) it is an antidote for some kinds of poisons
-
black lead, graphite, plumbago
used as a lubricant and as a moderator in nuclear reactors
-
adamant, diamond
very hard native crystalline carbon valued as a gem
-
liquid nitrogen
nitrogen in a liquid state
-
type of:
-
substance
the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists
-
one of four substances thought in ancient and medieval cosmology to constitute the physical universe“the alchemists believed that there were four elements”
-
types:
- show 5 types...
- hide 5 types...
-
air
once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles)
-
fire
once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles)
-
earth
once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles)
-
ether, quintessence
the fifth and highest element after air and earth and fire and water; was believed to be the substance composing all heavenly bodies
-
water
once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles)
-
type of:
-
substance
the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists
-
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
-
synonyms:
component, constituent
-
types:
- show 39 types...
- hide 39 types...
-
accessory, add-on, appurtenance, supplement
a supplementary component that improves capability
-
add-on, addition, improver
a component that is added to something to improve it
-
audio
the sound elements of television
-
auto part, car part
a component of an automobile
-
crystal
a crystalline element used as a component in various electronic devices
-
computer hardware, hardware
(computer science) the mechanical, magnetic, electronic, and electrical components making up a computer system
-
heating element
the component of a heater or range that transforms fuel or electricity into heat
-
ingredient
a component of a mixture or compound
-
input
a component of production; something that goes into the production of output
-
landside
component consisting of a side piece opposite the moldboard
-
making
(usually plural) the components needed for making or doing something
-
module
a self-contained component (unit or item) that is used in combination with other components
-
pel, picture element, pixel
(computer science) the smallest discrete component of an image or picture on a CRT screen (usually a colored dot)
-
retrofit
a component or accessory added to something after it has been manufactured
-
spare, spare part
an extra component of a machine or other apparatus
-
spark gap
a component of an ignition system; consists of two shaped electrodes and the space between them
-
additive
something added to enhance food or gasoline or paint or medicine
-
admixture, intermixture
an additional ingredient that is added by mixing with the base
-
afterthought
an addition that was not included in the original plan
-
annex, annexe, extension, wing
an addition that extends a main building
-
attachment
a supplementary part or accessory
-
auto accessory
an accessory for an automobile
-
bar
a heating element in an electric fire
-
base
the principal ingredient of a mixture
-
burner
the heating elements of a stove or range on which pots and pans are placed for cooking
-
cartridge
a module designed to be inserted into a larger piece of equipment
-
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
-
computer accessory
an accessory for a computer
-
elongation, extension
an addition to the length of something
-
fitting
a small and often standardized accessory to a larger system
-
fixings, trimmings
the accessories that normally accompany (something or some activity)
-
immersion heater
a heating element that is immersed in the liquid that is to be heated (as in a hot-water tank)
-
computer memory, computer storage, memory, memory board, storage, store
an electronic memory device
-
piezoelectric crystal
a crystal that can be used as a transducer
-
power module
module that provides power to operate other modules
-
scheduler
computer hardware that arranges jobs to be done by the computer in an appropriate order
-
sequencer
computer hardware that sorts data or programs into a predetermined sequence
-
upgrade
hardware that provides better performance than an earlier version did
-
addendum
a thing that is added or will be added
-
an abstract part of something“the grammatical elements of a sentence”
-
synonyms:
component, constituent, factor, ingredient
-
types:
- show 8 types...
- hide 8 types...
-
be all and end all, be-all and end-all
the essential factor; the all-important element; the supreme aim
-
plot element
a component or element of the plot of a story
-
point
a geometric element that has position but no extension
-
counterpoint
an element, idea, or argument used to create a contrast
-
MacGuffin, McGuffin
(film) a plot element that catches the viewers' attention or drives the plot
-
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
-
intersection, intersection point, point of intersection
a point where lines intersect
-
intercept
the point at which a line intersects a coordinate axis
-
the most favorable environment for a plant or animal“water is the element of fishes”
-
type of:
-
environment, environs, surround, surroundings
the area in which something exists or lives
-
environment, environs, surround, surroundings
-
the situation in which you are happiest and most effective“in your element”
-
type of:
-
situation, state of affairs
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
-
situation, state of affairs
-
a straight line that generates a cylinder or cone
-
types:
-
element of a cone
a straight line joining the apex and a point on the base
-
element of a cylinder
a straight line running the length of the cylinder
-
type of:
-
straight line
a line traced by a point traveling in a constant direction; a line of zero curvature
-
element of a cone
Pronunciation
US
/ˈɛləmənt/
UK
/ˈɛləmənt/
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
- MLA
- APA
- Chicago
Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘element'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
Send us feedback
Word Family
Vocabulary lists containing element
The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School
Sixteen-year-old Yamilet Flores is a queer Mexican-American girl who navigates Catholic school and first love while learning to be authentic to herself.
EDITOR'S CHOICE
Look up element for the last time
Close your vocabulary gaps with personalized learning that focuses on teaching the words you need to know.
