Element and Difference

noun

• An abstract part of something.
  • usage: "jealousy was a component of his character"; "two constituents of a musical composition are melody and harmony"; "the grammatical elements of a sentence"; "a key factor in her success"; "humor: an effective ingredient of a speech"
  • synonyms: component, constituent, factor, ingredient
• 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.
  • usage: "spare components for cars"; "a component or constituent element of a system"
  • synonyms: component, constituent
• 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.
  • synonyms: chemical element
• The most favorable environment for a plant or animal.
  • usage: "water is the element of fishes"
• One of four substances thought in ancient and medieval cosmology to constitute the physical universe.
  • usage: "the alchemists believed that there were four elements"
• The situation in which you are happiest and most effective.
  • usage: "in your element"
• A straight line that generates a cylinder or cone. .

• (n.) One of the smallest natural divisions of the organism, as a blood corpuscle, a muscular fiber.
• (n.) One of the simple substances, as supposed by the ancient philosophers; one of the imaginary principles of matter.
• (n.) Sometimes a curve or surface or volume is considered as described by a moving point or curve or surface, the latter being at any instant called an element of the former.
• (n.) The simplest or fundamental principles of any system in philosophy, science or art; rudiments; as, the elements of geometry or of music.
• (n.) 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.
• (n.) One of the terms in an algebraic expression.
• (n.) 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.
• (n.) 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.
• (v.t.) To constitute; to make up with elements.
• (n.) The bread and wine used in the eucharist or Lord's supper.
• (n.) The elements of the alchemists were salt, sulphur, and mercury.
• (n.) The whole material composing the world.
• (n.) One of the simplest essential parts, more commonly called cells, of which animal and vegetable organisms or their tissues and organs, are composed.
• (n.) The four elements were, air, earth, water, and fire.
• (n.) 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.
• (n.) 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.
• (n.) Any outline or sketch, regarded as containing the fundamental ideas or features of the thing in question; as, the elements of a plan.
• (v.t.) To compound of elements or first principles.
• (n.) the conditions and movements of the air.
• (n.) 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.

(DoD) An organization formed around a specific function within a designated directorate of a joint force commander's headquarters. The subordinate components of an element usually are functional cells.

noun

• The quality of being unlike or dissimilar.
  • usage: "there are many differences between jazz and rock"
• A variation that deviates from the standard or norm.
  • usage: "the deviation from the mean"
  • synonyms: deviation, divergence, departure
• A disagreement or argument about something important.
  • usage: "he had a dispute with his wife"; "there were irreconcilable differences"; "the familiar conflict between Republicans and Democrats"
  • synonyms: dispute, difference of opinion, conflict
• A significant change.
  • usage: "the difference in her is amazing"; "his support made a real difference"
• The number that remains after subtraction; the number that when added to the subtrahend gives the minuend.
  • synonyms: remainder

• (n.) An addition to a coat of arms to distinguish the bearings of two persons, which would otherwise be the same. See Augmentation, and Marks of cadency, under Cadency.
• (n.) The quality or attribute which is added to those of the genus to constitute a species; a differentia.
• (n.) The act of differing; the state or measure of being different or unlike; distinction; dissimilarity; unlikeness; variation; as, a difference of quality in paper; a difference in degrees of heat or of light; what is the difference between the innocent and the guilty?.
• (n.) That by which one thing differs from another; that which distinguishes or causes to differ; mark of distinction; characteristic quality; specific attribute.
• (v.t.) To cause to differ; to make different; to mark as different; to distinguish.
• (n.) Disagreement in opinion; dissension; controversy; quarrel; hence, cause of dissension; matter in controversy.
• (n.) Choice; preference.
• (n.) The quantity by which one quantity differs from another or the remainder left after subtracting the one from the other.