(1) 要素，组成部分，成分(fundamental or essential part of a whole;necessary feature) [C，N(in/of)]：the～s of the human body/of a sentence/of music 人体的组成部分/句子成分/音乐的成分; reduce sth to its～s 把某物还原为元素; an important～in the success of sth/of government 成功/体制的一个重要因素; all/one of the～s of life 生活的所有/一个组成部分; A good story has an～of suspense. 好的故事要有悬念。〖同〗component;〖反〗 compound，total;

(2) 小量，少许 (slight amount;trace) [C，通常sing]：an～of truth/of danger/of doubt/of mystery 有点(些)道理/危险/疑问/神秘;

(3) 元素(substance that cannot be split by chemical means into simpler substances)[C]：Hydrogen，chlorine，iron and uranium are～s. 氢、氯、铁、铀都是元素。

(4) (古代哲学家认为构成宇宙的土、气、火、水四大要素之一) 要素(according to ancient philosophers，any one of the four substances，earth，air，fire and water，of which the universe was supposed to be made) [C];

(5) 1) 自然力，风雨(wind，rain and other forces of nature that make the weather) [the～]：fight against/battle/combat the fury of the～s 与狂风暴雨搏斗; exposed to the～s 经受风吹雨打; brave/be careless of the～s 勇敢面对/全然不顾恶劣的天气 2) 原理，基础知识 (first things to be learned in any subjects) [the～s]： learn (master) the～s of arithmetic/of grammar/of musical theory 学习(掌握)数学/语法/音乐理论的基础知识; The～s of physics are difficult to grasp. 物理原理很难掌握。〖同〗 principles，foundations;

(6) (适应的)生活环境，活动范围(environment to which someone or sth is suited or adapted) [C，通常sing]：The sea was as much his～as the land. 大海同陆地一样都是他生活的地方。The theater is his real～. 戏剧才是他真正的天地。Water is the～of fish. 水是鱼的生存环境。〖同〗 environment;

in one's element 处于很适应的环境;在自己的活动范围之内;很在行： in one's～when one is in the mountains/working on the farm/among a crowd of girls 在山里/在农场干活/和一群女孩子在一起时，感到非常自在; The deep sea fish is in its～in deep water. 深水鱼只有在深水中才会感到适应。

out of one's element 处于不适应的环境;不在自己的活动范围之内;很外行：feel out of one's～in political discussions/among a group of bankers and financiers/when people begin talking about economies/on the farm 在讨论政治时/在一群银行家和金融家中/当人们开始谈论经济制度的时候/在农场时感到不自在(适应);Wild animals are out of their～in cages. 野生动物被关在笼子中很不自在。

→͵ele′mental adj 元(要)素的;͵ele′mentary adj 基础(本)的;

【辨异】element、component、constituent和ingredient均指某物的组成部分。element 为通用词，可以指任何事情的任何关键或基本成分，如：the elements of matter (物质的要素);component 指合成物或混合物众多成分中的一个， 如：the components of an engine (发动机的部件);constituent 经常可以与component通用，但强调某物的有机组成部分，如：Hydrogen and oxygen are constituents of water. (水是由氢原子和氧原子组成的。) ingredient 暗示在与其他的成分混合或组合后失去其原有的特征，如：Milk，eggs and flour are basic ingredients in making a cake.(牛奶、鸡蛋及面粉是制作面包的主要原料。)