Element

n. [Fr. élément, Pr. element, Sp., Pg., & It. elemento, Lat. elementum; Armor. elfenn, element, elven, spark of fire, W. elven, elv, element, eluydd, element, earth, land.]

1. One of the simplest or essential parts or principles of which any thing consists, or upon which the constitution or fundamental powers of any thing are based.
2. One of the ultimate, undecomposable constituents of any kind of matter; as, oxygen and hydrogen are the elements of water.
3. One of the ultimate parts which are variously combined in any thing; as, letters are the elements of written language; also, a simple portion of that which is complex.
4. One of the essential ingredients of any mixture; as, quartz, feldspar, and mica are the elements of granite.
5. (a.) One out of several parts combined in a system or aggregation, when each is of the nature of the whole; as, a single cell is an element of the honey-comb. (b.) (Anat.) One of the smallest natural divisions of the organism, as a blood corpuscle, a muscular fiber, or an epithelial cell.
6. (Math.) An infinitesimal part of any thing of the same nature as the entire magnitude considered; as, in a solid of revolution an element is the infinitesimal portion between two planes which are at right angles with the axis of revolution, and separated an indefinitely small distance. In the calculus, element is sometimes used as synonymous with a differential.
7. One of the necessary data or values upon which a system of calculations depends, or general conclusions are based; as, the elements of a planet’s orbit.
8. One of the fundamental sources of activity, or moving causes, in nature or life. “Passions are the elements of life.” Pope.
9. (pl.) The simplest or fundamental principles of any system in philosophy, science, or art; rudiments; as, the elements of geometry, or of music.
10. (pl.) Any outline or sketch, regarded as containing the fundamental ideas or features of the thing in question; as, the elements of a plan.
11. That which ancient philosophy supposed to be simple and undecomposable; as, the four so-called elements, air, earth, water, and fire; whence it is said, water is the proper element of fishes, the air is the element of birds; hence, the state or sphere natural to any thing, or suited for its existence.

They show that they are out of their element. Baker. 12. The air; the atmosphere. [Obs. and rare.] The element itself, till seven years’ heat, Shall not behold her face at ample view. Shak. 13. (pl.) The whole material composing the world. The elements shall melt with fervent heat. 2 Peter iii. 10. 14. (pl.) (Eccl.) The bread and wine used in the eucharist.