1. 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
   "Oxygen is a chemical element essential for life on Earth";
   - chemical element
    
2. An abstract part of something
   "the grammatical elements of a sentence";
   - component, constituent, factor, ingredient
    
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
   "a component or constituent element of a system";
   - component, constituent
    
4. One of four substances thought in ancient and medieval cosmology to constitute the physical universe
   "the alchemists believed that there were four elements"
    
5. The most favourable environment for a plant or animal
   "water is the element of fishes"
    
6. The situation in which you are happiest and most effective
   "in your element"
    
7. A straight line that generates a cylinder or cone
   "The element of the cone extended from its apex to the base"

Derived forms: elements

Type of: division, environment, environs, part, portion, section, situation, state of affairs, straight line, substance, surround, surroundings

Encyclopedia: Element