one of the simplest or essential parts or principles of which anything consists, or upon which the constitution or fundamental powers of anything are based.-one of the ultimate, undecomposable constituents of any kind of matter. specifically: (chem.) a substance which cannot be decomposed into different kinds of matter by any means at present employed; as, the elements of water are oxygen and hydrogen.-one of the ultimate parts which are variously combined in anything; as, letters are the elements of written language; hence, also, a simple portion of that which is complex, as a shaft, lever, wheel, or any simple part in a machine; one of the essential ingredients of any mixture; a constituent part; as, quartz, feldspar, and mica are the elements of granite.-one out of several parts combined in a system of aggregation, when each is of the nature of the whole; as, a single cell is an element of the honeycomb.-one of the smallest natural divisions of the organism, as a blood corpuscle, a muscular fiber.-one of the simplest essential parts, more commonly called cells, of which animal and vegetable organisms, or their tissues and organs, are composed.-an infinitesimal part of anything of the same nature as the entire magnitude considered; as, in a solid an element may be the infinitesimal portion between any two planes that are separated an indefinitely small distance. in the calculus, element is sometimes used as synonymous with differential.-sometimes a curve, or surface, or volume is considered as described by a moving point, or curve, or surface, the latter being at any instant called an element of the former.-one of the terms in an algebraic expression.-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.-the simplest or fundamental principles of any system in philosophy, science, or art; rudiments; as, the elements of geometry, or of music.-any outline or sketch, regarded as containing the fundamental ideas or features of the thing in question; as, the elements of a plan.-one of the simple substances, as supposed by the ancient philosophers; one of the imaginary principles of matter.-the four elements were, air, earth, water, and fire-the conditions and movements of the air.-the elements of the alchemists were salt, sulphur, and mercury.-the whole material composing the world.-the bread and wine used in the eucharist or lord's supper.-to compound of elements or first principles.-to constitute; to make up with elements.