Essence vs. Element

The intrinsic or indispensable quality or qualities that serve to characterize or identify something

A fundamental, essential, or irreducible constituent of a composite entity.

(Philosophy) The inherent, unchanging nature of a thing or class of things, especially as contrasted with its existence.

Elements The basic assumptions or principles of a subject.

The most important part or aspect of something

A member of a set.

An extract that has the fundamental properties of a substance in concentrated form.

A point, line, or plane.

Such an extract in a solution of alcohol.

A part of a geometric configuration, such as an angle in a triangle.

A perfume or scent.

The generatrix of a geometric figure.

One that has or shows an abundance of a quality as if highly concentrated

Any of the terms in the rectangular array of terms that constitute a matrix or determinant.

Something that exists, especially a spiritual or incorporeal entity.

Chemistry & Physics A substance composed of atoms having an identical number of protons in each nucleus. Elements cannot be reduced to simpler substances by normal chemical means. See Periodic Table.

The inherent nature of a thing or idea.

One of four substances, earth, air, fire, or water, formerly regarded as a fundamental constituent of the universe.

(philosophy) The true nature of anything, not accidental or illusory.

(Electricity)The resistance wire in an electrical appliance such as a heater or an oven.

Constituent substance.

Elements The forces that constitute the weather, especially severe or inclement weather:outside paint that had been damaged by the elements.

A being; especially, a purely spiritual being.

An environment naturally suited to or associated with an individual:He is in his element when traveling. The business world is her element.

A significant feature of something.

A distinct group within a larger community:the dissident element on campus.

The concentrated form of a plant or drug obtained through a distillation process.

A ground unit in an air force comparable to a platoon.

An extract or concentrate obtained from a plant or other matter used for flavouring, or as a restorative.

A unit of an air force equal to two or three aircraft.

Fragrance, a perfume.

Elements The bread and wine of the Eucharist.

The constituent elementary notions which constitute a complex notion, and must be enumerated to define it; sometimes called the nominal essence.

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.

The constituent quality or qualities which belong to any object, or class of objects, or on which they depend for being what they are (distinguished as real essence); the real being, divested of all logical accidents; that quality which constitutes or marks the true nature of anything; distinctive character; hence, virtue or quality of a thing, separated from its grosser parts.

(chemistry) Any one of the simplest chemical substances that cannot be decomposed in a chemical reaction or by any chemical means and made up of atoms all having the same number of protons.

Constituent substance.

One of the four basic building blocks of matter in theories of ancient philosophers and alchemists: water, earth, fire, and air.

A being; esp., a purely spiritual being.

A basic, simple substance out of which something is made, raw material.

The predominant qualities or virtues of a plant or drug, extracted and refined from grosser matter; or, more strictly, the solution in spirits of wine of a volatile or essential oil; as, the essence of mint, and the like.

(legal) A required aspect or component of a cause of action. A deed is regarded as a violation of law only if each element can be proved.

Perfume; odor; scent; or the volatile matter constituting perfume.

(set theory) One of the objects in a set.

To perfume; to scent.

(mathematics) One of the entries of a matrix.

The choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience;

Any of the teeth of a zip fastener.

Any substance possessing to a high degree the predominant properties of a plant or drug or other natural product from which it is extracted

A small part of the whole.

The central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work

A small but present amount of a quality, a hint.

A toiletry that emits and diffuses a fragrant odor

A factor, one of the conditions contributing to a result.

(obsolete) The sky.

(obsolete) Any one of the heavenly spheres believed to carry the celestial bodies.

Atmospheric forces such as strong winds and rains.

A place or state of being that an individual or object is best suited to.

The bread and wine taken at Holy Communion.

A group of people within a larger group having a particular common characteristic.

(in the plural only) The basic principles of a field of knowledge, basics, fundamentals, rudiments.

A component in electrical equipment, often in the form of a coil, having a high resistance, thereby generating heat when a current is passed through it.

(mathematics) An infinitesimal interval of a quantity, a differential.

(astronomy) An orbital element; one of the parameters needed to uniquely specify a particular orbit.

(computing) One of the conceptual objects in a markup language, usually represented in text by tags.

(obsolete) To compound of elements.

(obsolete) To constitute and be the elements of.

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 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.

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 conditions and movements of the air.

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.

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