Meaning of element In English

• 0 a part of something:

  • List the elements that make up a perfect dinner party.

  • The movie had all the elements of a good thriller.

  • We weren't even taught the elements of (= basic information about) physics at school.

• 1 a small amount of an emotion or quality:

  • There was certainly an element of truth in what she said.

  • Don't you think there's an element of jealousy in all of this?

  • We walked quietly up to the door to preserve the element of surprise.

• 2 a simple substance that cannot be reduced to smaller chemical parts:

  • Aluminium is an element.

• 3 earth, air, fire, and water from which people in the past believed everything else was made

• 4 the weather, usually bad weather:

  • We decided to brave the elements and go for a walk (= go for a walk despite the bad weather).

• 5 the part of an electrical device that produces heat:

  • a heating element

  • The kettle needs a new element.

  • a gas element

  • an electric element

• 6 one of the parts of something that makes it work, or a quality that makes someone or something effective:

  • the heating element of a toaster

  • Having a second income is an important element for most home buyers.

  • They had all the elements of a great team.

• 7 a small amount or degree:

  • There was an element of truth in what she said, but it was an exaggeration.

• 8 a substance that cannot be reduced to smaller chemical parts and that has an atom different from that of any other substance