elemental

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /(ˌ)ɛləˈmɛntəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #24152

Meanings

1

adj
Basic and fundamental; forming an essential part of something.

The need for safety is one of our most elemental human needs.
2

adj
Relating to the powerful forces of nature, especially harsh weather.

They struggled against the elemental fury of the storm.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · basic and fundamental;... primary

Word family

Derived forms bielementalbioelementaldielementalelementalismelementalityelementalizeelementallymonoelementalmultielementalnonelementalomnielementaltrielemental

Etymology

From Middle English elementall, from Medieval Latin elementālis; compare Old French elementel. By surface analysis, element + -al.

elementall Middle English elementālis la-med

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# elemental

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /(ˌ)ɛləˈmɛntəl/
**Frequency rank:** 24152

## Meanings
1. Basic and fundamental; forming an essential part of something.
2. Relating to the powerful forces of nature, especially harsh weather.

## Examples
- The need for safety is one of our most elemental human needs.
- They struggled against the elemental fury of the storm.

## Derived Forms
- bielemental
- bioelemental
- dielemental
- elementalism
- elementality
- elementalize
- elementally
- monoelemental
- multielemental
- nonelemental
- omnielemental
- trielemental

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: elementall
- Root: elementālis

## Etymology
From Middle English elementall, from Medieval Latin elementālis; compare Old French elementel. By surface analysis, element + -al.

## AI Etymology
Elemental comes from Middle English elementall, from Medieval Latin elementālis; compare Old French elementel. By surface analysis, element + -al. In current use, the main senses are “Basic and fundamental; forming an essential part of something” and “Relating to the powerful forces of nature, especially harsh weather”.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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