noun
white silk; undyed silk
Refers to plain white silk fabric, often undyed and unadorned. This is a traditional material used in clothing and art.
この着物は素で仕立てられている。
This kimono is made of white silk.
noun
prime; relatively prime
Mathematics term. Used in number theory to describe numbers that share no common factors other than 1. Often appears in the phrase 互いに素 (coprime).
See also: 互いに素
8と15は互いに素である。
8 and 15 are coprime.
noun
Chemistry term. Refers to a fundamental substance or element, often in the context of classical or alchemical concepts. Rare in modern usage outside historical or philosophical contexts.
古代の哲学では、万物は四つの素から成ると考えられた。
In ancient philosophy, all things were thought to be composed of four elements.
白絹 also means white silk but is more specific to the material itself, while 素 can imply the undyed, plain quality.
素数 means 'prime number', whereas 素 alone is used in the mathematical sense of 'prime' or 'coprime' in specific phrases.
元素 is the modern term for 'chemical element', while 素 in the chemistry sense is archaic and philosophical.
The kanji 素 originally represents undyed silk, and by extension came to mean 'plain' or 'fundamental'. The mathematical and chemical uses are derived from this core idea of 'basic element'.