element

noun (C)

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

—compare compound 1 (1)

2 an element of surprise/danger/doubt etc a small amount of a quality or feeling: There's always an element of risk in this kind of investment.

3 PEOPLE a group of people who form part of a larger group, especially when the rest of the group does not approve of them: There is a strong right-wing element in the organization.

4 PART one part of a whole system, plan, piece of writing etc: Rhyme is just one of the elements of his poetry.

5 WEATHER the elements (plural) the weather, especially bad weather: battling against the elements

6 HEATING the heating part of a piece of electrical equipment such as a kettle

7 the elements of sth the most simple things that you have to learn first about a subject: I never managed to understand even the elements of calculus.

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: He's in his element when he's talking to large groups of people.

10 be out of your element to be in a situation that makes you uncomfortable or unhappy: I felt out of my element surrounded by so much finery.