element

el|e|ment

W1S2 [ˈelımənt] n

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1¦(part)¦

2 element of surprise/truth/risk/doubt etc

3¦(chemistry)¦

4¦(people)¦

5 the elements

6¦(heating)¦

7 the elements of something

8¦(earth/air/fire/water)¦

9 be in your element

10 be out of your element

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[Date: 1300-1400; : Old French; Origin: Latin elementum]

1.) ¦(PART)¦

one part or feature of a whole system, plan, piece of work etc, especially one that is basic or important

element of

▪ Honesty is a vital element of her success.

element in

▪ the primary element in the country's economy

important/key/essential/vital etc element

▪ Besides ability, the other essential element in political success is luck.

▪ Business and management elements are built into the course.

2.) element of surprise/truth/risk/doubt etc

an amount, usually small, of a quality or feeling

▪ There is an element of truth in your argument.

3.) ¦(CHEMISTRY)¦

a simple chemical substance such as ↑carbon or oxygen that consists of atoms of only one kind

→↑compound¹ (1)

4.) ¦(PEOPLE)¦

a group of people who form part of a larger group, especially when the rest of the group does not approve of them

→↑faction

▪ the hard-line communist elements in the party

5.) the elements [plural]

the weather, especially bad weather

▪ sailors battling against the elements

6.) ¦(HEATING)¦

the part of a piece of electrical equipment that produces heat

7.) the elements of sth

the most simple things that you have to learn first about a subject

▪ She doesn't even know the basic elements of politeness.

8.) ¦(EARTH/AIR/FIRE/WATER)¦

one of the four substances (earth, air, fire, and water) from which people used to believe that everything was made

9.) be in your element

to be in a situation that you enjoy, because you are good at it

▪ Graham was in his element, building a fire and cooking the steaks.

10.) be out of your element

to be in a situation that makes you uncomfortable or unhappy

▪ She was out of her element in this dull little town.