1. An abstract part of something
   "jealousy was a component of his character";
   - constituent, element, factor, ingredient
    
2. Something determined in relation to something that includes it
   "the smaller component is hard to reach"; "he wanted to feel a component part of something bigger than himself";
   - part, portion, component part, constituent
    
3. 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";
   - constituent, element
    
4. [technical] The magnitude of a vector in a specified basis direction
   "Calculate the component of the force along the x-axis"

1. Forming an essential or integral part of a whole, especially of a physical structure
   "The engine is a component part of the car";
   - constituent, constitutional, constitutive

Derived forms: components

See also: essential

Type of: division, part, portion, relation, section

Part of: meronymy, part to whole relation

Encyclopedia: Component