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Component or Element - What's the difference?

component | element |

Element is a synonym of component.



As nouns the difference between component and element

is that component is a smaller, self-contained part of a larger entity. Often refers to a manufactured object that is part of a larger device while element is 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.

As an adjective component

is making up a larger whole; as a component word.

component

Noun

(en noun)
  • A smaller, self-contained part of a larger entity. Often refers to a manufactured object that is part of a larger device.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=September-October, author= Katie L. Burke
  • , magazine=(American Scientist), title= In the News , passage=Oxygen levels on Earth skyrocketed 2.4 billion years ago, when cyanobacteria evolved photosynthesis:

    Derived terms

    * componentless

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Making up a larger whole; as a component word.
  • Made up of smaller complete units in combination; as a component stereo.
  • ----

    element

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • 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.
  • * (Benjamin Jowett) (1817-1893) ((Thucydides))
  • The simplicity which is so large an element in a noble nature was laughed to scorn.
  • # (label) 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.
  • # One of the four basic building blocks of matter in theories of ancient philosophers and alchemists: water, earth, fire, and air.
  • # (label) A required aspect or component of a cause of action. A deed is regarded a violation of law only if each element can be proved.
  • # (label) One of the objects in a set.
  • A small part of the whole.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1927, author= F. E. Penny
  • , chapter=4, title= Pulling the Strings , passage=The case was that of a murder. It had an element of mystery about it, however, which was puzzling the authorities. A turban and loincloth soaked in blood had been found; also a staff.}}
  • Atmospheric forces such as strong winds and rains.
  • A place or state of being that an individual or object is better suited towards.
  • The bread and wine taken at Holy Communion.
  • A group of people within a larger group having a particular common characteristic.
  • A short form of heating element, 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.
  • (label) One of the conceptual objects in a markup language, usually represented in text by a matching pair of tags.
  • * 2011 , Richard Wagner, Creating Web Pages All-in-One For Dummies
  • The div element was introduced into HTML as a solution to the layout problem.

    Synonyms

    * (in chemistry) chemical element * (in set theory) member

    Derived terms

    * chemical element * data element * heating element

    See also

    * atom