n 1  :  any of the four substances air, water, fire, and earth formerly believed to compose the physical universe  2  :  a constituent part: as  a  :  any of more than 100 fundamental substances that consist of atoms of only one kind and that singly or in combination constitute all matter  b  :  one of the distinct parts (as a lens) of a composite device (as a microscope)  c  :  one of the basic constituent units (as a cell or fiber) of a tissue .
 
 
 
Similar sounding terms:  elim·i·nate 
 
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