noun
element; chemical element
Only when written 元素
Standard modern term in chemistry for a substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances.
See also: 化学元素
水は水素と酸素という二つの元素からできている。
Water is made of two elements: hydrogen and oxygen.
周期表には118の元素が載っている。
The periodic table lists 118 elements.
noun
classical element
Refers to the four or five classical elements (earth, water, air, fire, and sometimes void/aether) in ancient and medieval philosophy.
古代ギリシャでは、万物は四つの元素から成ると考えられていた。
In ancient Greece, it was thought that all things were composed of four elements.
noun
Archaic use; in modern Japanese, 起源 or 根源 are more common for this meaning.
古い文献では、「元素」が万物の根源を指すことがある。
In old texts, 元素 can refer to the origin of all things.