Definition of “element”

noun

1. any of the 118 known substances (of which 93 occur naturally) that consist of atoms with the same number of protons in their nuclei Compare compound¹ (sense 1)
2. one of the fundamental or irreducible components making up a whole
3. a cause that contributes to a result; factor
4. any group that is part of a larger unit, such as a military formation
5. a small amount; hint  ⇒ an element of sarcasm in her voice 
6. a distinguishable section of a social group  ⇒ he belonged to the stable element in the expedition 
7. the most favourable environment for an animal or plant
8. the situation in which a person is happiest or most effective (esp in the phrases in or out of one's element)
9. the resistance wire and its former, which constitute the electrical heater in a cooker, heater, etc
10. electronics another name for component (sense 2)
11. one of the four substances thought in ancient and medieval cosmology to constitute the universe (earth, air, water, or fire)
12. (plural) atmospheric conditions or forces, esp wind, rain, and cold  ⇒ exposed to the elements 
13. (plural) the first principles of a subject
14. geometry a point, line, plane, or part of a geometric figure
15. mathematics 
    1. any of the terms in a determinant or matrix
    2. one of the infinitesimally small quantities summed by an integral, often represented by the expression following the integral sign  ⇒ in ʃin ^bx)x, xx is an element of area_af(x)dx, f(x)dx is an element of area 
16. mathematics logic one of the objects or numbers that together constitute a set
17. Christianity the bread or wine consecrated in the Eucharist
18. astronomy any of the numerical quantities, such as the major axis or eccentricity, used in describing the orbit of a planet, satellite, etc
19. one of the vertical or horizontal rods forming a television or VHF radio receiving aerial
20. physics a component of a compound lens