Element vs. Unit — What's the Difference?

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

An individual, group, structure, or other entity regarded as an elementary structural or functional constituent of a whole.

Elements The basic assumptions or principles of a subject.

A group regarded as a distinct entity within a larger group.

A member of a set.

A mechanical part or module.

A point, line, or plane.

An entire apparatus or the equipment that performs a specific function.

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

A precisely specified quantity in terms of which the magnitudes of other quantities of the same kind can be stated.

The generatrix of a geometric figure.

(Medicine) The quantity of a vaccine, serum, drug, or other agent necessary to produce a specific effect.

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

A fixed amount of scholastic study used as a basis for calculating academic credits, usually measured in hours of classroom instruction or laboratory work.

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.

A section of an academic course focusing on a selected theme

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

The number immediately to the left of the decimal point in the Arabic numeral system.

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

The lowest positive whole number; one.

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

An element of a ring with a multiplicative inverse.

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

(mathematics) Oneness, singularity, seen as a component of a whole number; a magnitude of one.

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

(sciences) A standard measure of a quantity.

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

The number one.

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

Ellipsis of international unit

Elements The bread and wine of the Eucharist.

An organized group comprising people and/or equipment.

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.

A member of a military organization.

(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.

(commerce) An item which may be sold singly.

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

Any piece of equipment, such as an appliance, power tool, stereo system, computer, tractor, or machinery.

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

A measure of housing equivalent to the living quarters of one household; an apartment where a group of apartments is contained in one or more multi-storied buildings or a group of dwellings is in one or more single storey buildings, usually arranged around a driveway.

(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.

Any military element whose structure is prescribed by competent authority, such as a table of organization and equipment; specifically, part of an organization.

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

An organization title of a subdivision of a group in a task force.

(mathematics) One of the entries of a matrix.

A standard or basic quantity into which an item of supply is divided, issued, or detailed. In this meaning, also called unit of issue.

Any of the teeth of a zip fastener.

With regard to Reserve Components of the Armed Forces, denotes a Selected Reserve unit organized, equipped, and trained for mobilization to serve on active duty as a unit or to augment or be augmented by another unit. Headquarters and support functions without wartime missions are not considered units.

A small part of the whole.

(algebra) The identity element, neutral element.

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

(algebra) An element having an inverse, an invertible element; an associate of the unity.

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

(category theory) In an adjunction, a natural transformation from the identity functor of the domain of the left adjoint functor to the composition of the right adjoint functor with the left adjoint functor.

(obsolete) The sky.

(geology) A volume of rock or ice of identifiable origin and age range that is defined by the distinctive and dominant, easily mapped and recognizable petrographic, lithologic or paleontologic features (facies) that characterize it.

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

(UK) A unit of alcohol.

Atmospheric forces such as strong winds and rains.

One kilowatt-hour (as recorded on an electricity meter).

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

(historical) A gold coin of the reign of James I, worth twenty shillings.

The bread and wine taken at Holy Communion.

A work unit.

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

A physically large person.

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

A penis, especially a large one.

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.

For each unit.

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

(mathematics) Having a size or magnitude of one.

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

A single thing or person.

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

The least whole number; one.

(obsolete) To compound of elements.

A gold coin of the reign of James I., of the value of twenty shillings.

(obsolete) To constitute and be the elements of.

Any determinate amount or quantity (as of length, time, heat, value) adopted as a standard of measurement for other amounts or quantities of the same kind.

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.

A single thing, as a magnitude or number, regarded as an undivided whole.

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.

Any division of quantity accepted as a standard of measurement or exchange;

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.

An individual or group or structure or other entity regarded as a structural or functional constituent of a whole;

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.

An organization regarded as part of a larger social group;

One of the simplest essential parts, more commonly called cells, of which animal and vegetable organisms, or their tissues and organs, are composed.

A single undivided whole;

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.

A single undivided natural thing occurring in the composition of something else;

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.

An assemblage of parts that is regarded as a single entity;

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