element

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English Vietnamese dictionary

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Advanced English dictionary

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+ noun
part / amount
1 [C] ~ (in / of sth) a necessary or typical part of sth: Cost was a key element in our decision. + The story has all the elements of a soap opera. + Customer relations is an important element of the job.
2 [C, usually sing.] ~ of surprise, risk, truth, etc. a small amount of a quality or feeling: We need to preserve the element of surprise. + There appears to be an element of truth in his story.
group of people
3 [C, usually pl.] a group of people who form a part of a larger group or society: moderate / radical elements within the party + unruly elements in the school
chemistry
4 [C] a simple chemical substance that consists of atoms of only one type and cannot be split by chemical means into a simpler substance. Gold, OXYGEN and CARBON are all elements.
Compare: COMPOUND
earth / air / fire / water
5 [C] one of the four substances: earth, air, fire and water, which people used to believe everything else was made of
weather
6 (the elements) [pl.] the weather, especially bad weather: Are we going to brave the elements and go for a walk? + to be exposed to the elements
basic principles
7 (elements) [pl.] the basic principles of a subject that you have to learn first: He taught me the elements of map-reading.
environment
8 [C, usually sing.] a natural or suitable environment, especially for an animal: Water is a fish's natural element.
electrical part
9 [C] the part of a piece of electrical equipment that gives out heat: The kettle needs a new element.
Idioms: in your element doing what you are good at and enjoy: She's really in her element at parties.
out of your element in a situation that you are not used to and that makes you feel uncomfortable: I feel out of my element talking about politics.

Thesaurus dictionary

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n.

1 component, constituent, ingredient, essential, fundamental, part, unit, piece, segment, feature, factor, detail, particular:

Each element was carefully designed with a view to its place in the whole.

2 environment, atmosphere, situation, locale, territory, sphere, habitat, medium, domain:

Ordway is really in his element at a party.

3 elements.

(a) (adverse or unfavourable) weather, climatic conditions:

Stay here tonight - there's no need to brave the elements.

(b) rudiments, basics, fundamentals, foundations, essentials, principles:

It was she who taught me the elements of flying a helicopter.

Collocation dictionary

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¹ one part of sth

ADJ.

basic, critical, crucial, decisive, essential, fundamental, important, key, main, major, necessary, principal, significant, vital | dominant

The promise of tax cuts became the dominant element in the campaign.

| considerable, large

There is a considerable element of danger in her job.

| competitive

There is too much of a competitive element in the sales department.

| racial, sexual

Police say there may have been a racial element to the attacks.

VERB + ELEMENT

be, constitute, form | contain, have, include, involve

These rumours do contain an element of truth.

| introduce

PREP.

~ in

This constitutes one of the key elements in this reform programme.

| ~ of

Practical work will form a major element of the syllabus. There may have been an element of jealousy in her response.

² the elements: bad weather

VERB + ELEMENT

brave

I put on my thick coat ready to brave the elements.

| battle (against)

He told us stories of how he had battled the elements on his mountaineering trips.

| be exposed to, be open to

The place was completely exposed to the elements.

| be protected from, be sheltered from

PHRASES

protection/shelter from the elements

Concise English dictionary

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elements'elɪmənt
noun
+an abstract part of something
+any of the more than 100 known substances (of which 92 occur naturally) that cannot be separated into simpler substances and that singly or in combination constitute all matter
+an artifact that is one of the individual parts of which a composite entity is made up; especially a part that can be separated from or attached to a system
+one of four substances thought in ancient and medieval cosmology to constitute the physical universe
+the most favorable environment for a plant or animal
+the situation in which you are happiest and most effective
+a straight line that generates a cylinder or cone