The components of something are the parts that it is made of.
Enriched uranium is a key component of a nuclear weapon. [+ of]
The management plan has four main components.
They were automotive component suppliers to motor manufacturers.
Synonyms: part, piece, unit, item More Synonyms of component
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
The component parts of something are the parts that make it up.
First we have to break the system down into its component parts.
They manufacture component parts for engines.
Synonyms: constituent, composing, inherent, intrinsic More Synonyms of component
component in British English
(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. mathematics
a.
one of a set of two or more vectors whose resultant is a given vector
b.
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
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
component in American English
(kəmˈpoʊnənt)
adjective
1.
serving as one of the parts of a whole; constituent
noun
2.
a.
an element or ingredient
b.
any of the main constituent parts, as of a high-fidelity sound system
3.
any of the elements into which a vector quantity, as force or velocity, may be resolved: any vector is the sum of its elements
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈelement
Word origin
L componens, prp. of componere: see composite
COBUILD Collocations
component
critical component
vital component
Examples of 'component' in a sentence
component
Laughter appears to be a key component of their friendship.
The Sun (2016)
Driving history is a key component in working out car insurance.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Although the original body parts and other components were virtually all intact, the car had lost its engine and gearbox.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A key component of being a winning competitive bidder is constructing the auction so that you don't have take.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He was committed to country sports as a necessary and desirable component of a sustainable rural environment.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Such reinforced cement can also be formed into shaped components for piping and other uses.
Yearley, Steven Science, Technology, and Social Change (1988)
They can be bought in sets or you can mix and match different components together.
Churchill, Jane (ed.) Collins Complete Books of Soft Furnishings (1993)
Both components of treatment may be necessary for full recovery.
Herman, Judith Lewis Trauma and Recovery (1992)
You can certainly pick away at the component parts and make it look that way.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The distributor of electrical components is meeting investors this week.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Public health workers make up a key component of the health care system.
McKenzie, James F. & Pinger, Robert R. An Introduction to Community Health (1995)
It is now an essential component of the show.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The bacon sandwich and paracetamol remain the other two essential components.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
One of the most important components are inner tubes.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
What are the component parts of brass?
Charlotte M. Yonge The Daisy Chain (1837)
It occurs when the electrical components have been on for some time and have warmed up.
Samways, B. & Byrne-Jones, T. Computers Basic Facts (1983)
The loan would have enabled the company to become a global supplier of components for the nuclear industry.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Its ageing components make it increasingly inefficient and difficult to adapt to the demand for more and greener power.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
There is a huge global demand for nuclear power components and fewer than ten companies capable of such manufacture.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Most of the key components of the digital computing environment exhibit the same unusual economic behaviors that chips do.
Larry Downes THE STRATEGY MACHINE (2002)
In the case of moulds or components the situation may be more complex because ownership of tools is often shared.
Tom Cannon Basic Marketing. Principles and Practice (1986)
You're forgetting the two other main components of the band!
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In doing so, economists regard international trade as consisting of two distinct components.
Forstner, Helmut, Ballance, Robert Competing in a Global Economy (1990)
Today's process has two main components.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Some 3D printers are huge devices that make complete components such as aircraft parts.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
And yes, components are put together in various countries.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
As technology improves and costs drop, this screening is likely to become a routine component of family planning.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
component
British English: component /kəmˈpəʊnənt/ ADJECTIVE
The component parts of something are the parts that make it up.
The workers make component parts for aeroplanes.
American English: component
Arabic: مُكَوِّنَة
Brazilian Portuguese: componente
Chinese: 组成的
Croatian: sastavni
Czech: dílčí
Danish: del-
Dutch: samenstellend
European Spanish: componente
Finnish: osa-
French: composant
German: Teil-
Greek: συστατικός
Italian: componente
Japanese: 構成している
Korean: 구성하고 있는
Norwegian: del-
Polish: składowy
European Portuguese: componente
Romanian: component
Russian: составляющий
Latin American Spanish: integrante
Swedish: del-
Thai: เกี่ยวกับส่วนประกอบ
Turkish: bileşen
Ukrainian: складовий
Vietnamese: hợp thành
British English: component /kəmˈpəʊnənt/ NOUN
The components of something are its parts.
The plan has four main components.
American English: component
Arabic: مُكَوِّنَة
Brazilian Portuguese: componente
Chinese: 组件
Croatian: komponenta
Czech: součást
Danish: komponent
Dutch: onderdeel
European Spanish: componente
Finnish: osatekijä
French: composant
German: Bestandteil
Greek: συστατικό
Italian: componente
Japanese: 構成要素
Korean: 성분
Norwegian: bestanddel
Polish: składnik
European Portuguese: componente
Romanian: componentă
Russian: компонент
Latin American Spanish: componente
Swedish: komponent
Thai: ส่วนประกอบ
Turkish: bileşen
Ukrainian: складова
Vietnamese: thành phần
All related terms of 'component'
base component
the system of rules in a transformational grammar that specify the deep structure of the language
vital component
The components of something are the parts that it is made of.
critical component
The components of something are the parts that it is made of.
profile component
attainment targets in different subjects brought together for the general assessment of a pupil
transformational component
a set of transformational rules that convert the deep structure of sentences into their surface structures
Chinese translation of 'component'
component
(kəmˈpəunənt)
n(c)
[of plan]组(組)成部分 (zǔchéng bùfen) (个(個), gè)
[of weapon, body, substance]成分 (chéngfèn)
(Ind, Comm, for machinery etc) 部件 (bùjiàn)
adj
[parts, elements]组(組)成的 (zǔchéng de)
(noun)
Definition
a constituent part or feature of a whole
Enriched uranium is a key component of nuclear weapons.
Synonyms
part
The engine only has three moving parts.
piece
The equipment was taken down the shaft in pieces.
unit
designed for teachers to plan a study unit on marine mammals
item
The most valuable item on show will be a Picasso.
element
one of the key elements of the UN's peace plan
ingredient
The meeting had all the ingredients of high drama.
constituent
Caffeine is the active constituent of drinks such as tea and coffee.
(adjective)
Definition
forming or functioning as a part or feature
Polish factories will be making component parts for the aircraft.
Synonyms
constituent
The fuel is dissolved in nitric acid and separated into its constituent parts.
composing
inherent
the dangers inherent in an outbreak of war
intrinsic
Diamonds have little intrinsic value.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of element
Definition
one of the fundamental components making up a whole
one of the key elements of the UN's peace plan
Synonyms
component,
part,
feature,
unit,
section,
factor,
principle,
aspect,
detail,
foundation,
ingredient,
constituent,
subdivision
in the sense of ingredient
Definition
a component of a mixture or compound, esp. in cooking
The meeting had all the ingredients of high drama.