component

[kuh m-poh-nuh nt, kom-] /kəmˈpoʊ nənt, kɒm-/
noun
1.
a constituent part; element; ingredient.
2.
a part of a mechanical or electrical system:
hi-fi components.
3.
Physics. the projection of a vector quantity, as force or velocity, along an axis.
4.
Physical Chemistry. one of the set of the minimum number of chemical constituents by which every phase of a given system can be described.
5.
Mathematics.
  1. a connected subset of a set, not contained in any other connected subset of the set.
  2. a coordinate of a vector.
6.
Linguistics.
  1. one of the major subdivisions of a generative grammar:
    base component; transformational component; semantic component; phonological component.
    Compare level (def 16).
  2. a feature determined by componential analysis.
adjective
7.
being or serving as an element (in something larger); composing; constituent:
the component parts of a computer system.
Origin
1555-65; < Latin compōnent- (stem of compōnēns, present participle of compōnere to put together), equivalent to com- com- + pōn(ere) to put + -ent- -ent
Related forms
componential
[kom-puh-nen-shuh l] /ˌkɒm pəˈnɛn ʃəl/ (Show IPA), componental, adjective
componented, adjective
subcomponent, noun
Synonyms
1. See element.
Examples from the web for component
  • While the intellectual component is certainly a compelling part of the endeavor, making art is also a physical experience.
  • He has trouble accepting the element of charlatanism that is a necessary component of a theatrical imagination.
  • Perhaps there is no more important component of character than steadfast resolution.
  • The nation, on those subjects on which it can act, must necessarily bind its component parts.
  • The state component of foreign debt has declined, but commercial debt to foreigners has risen strongly.
  • But the former position of the component elements does not matter for our purpose.
  • From early settlement days, the cultural arts have been an important component of cities and towns across the state.
  • If salt is a functional component of the recipe, by all means, it should be included.
  • The more fraught component of the opera's legacy has been its treatment of race.
  • Cellulose is a major component of wood, giving that material its signature strength.
British Dictionary definitions for component

component

/kəmˈpəʊnənt/
noun
1.
a constituent part or aspect of something more complex: a component of a car
2.
Also called element. any electrical device, such as a resistor, that has distinct electrical characteristics and that may be connected to other electrical devices to form a circuit
3.
(maths)
  1. one of a set of two or more vectors whose resultant is a given vector
  2. the projection of this given vector onto a specified line
4.
one of the minimum number of chemically distinct constituents necessary to describe fully the composition of each phase in a system See phase rule
adjective
5.
forming or functioning as a part or aspect; constituent
Derived Forms
componential (ˌkɒmpəˈnɛnʃəl) adjective
Word Origin
C17: from Latin compōnere to put together, from pōnere to place, put
Word Origin and History for component
n.

1640s, "constitutional element" (earlier "one of a group of persons," 1560s), from Latin componentem (nominative componens), present participle of componere "to put together" (see composite). As an adjective, from 1660s.

component in Technology

programming
An object adhering to a component architecture.
(1997-11-20)