Characteristics vs. Element — What's the Difference?

Being a feature that helps to distinguish a person or thing; distinctive

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

A feature that helps to identify, tell apart, or describe recognizably; a distinguishing mark or trait.

Elements The basic assumptions or principles of a subject.

(Mathematics) The integral part of a logarithm as distinguished from the mantissa

A member of a set.

(Mathematics) The least number of times the multiplicative identity in a ring needs to be added to itself to reach the additive identity, or, if the additive identity is never reached, zero. The integers have a characteristic of zero; the integers modulo 12 have a characteristic of 12.

A point, line, or plane.

Plural of characteristic

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

The generatrix of a geometric figure.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Elements The bread and wine of the Eucharist.

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.

(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.

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

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

(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.

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

(mathematics) One of the entries of a matrix.

Any of the teeth of a zip fastener.

A small part of the whole.

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

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