component definition - Dictionary

Dictionary

Thesaurus

Translations

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

	composer

	Composite

	composite

	composite construction

	composite demand

	composite photograph

	composite school

	composite volcano

	composition

	compositor

	compost

	compost heap

	composter

	composure

	compote

	compound (1)

	compound (2)

Print Preview

See pronunciation key

Search for "component" in all of MSN Encarta

E-mail this entry

Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces

Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

component

com·po·nent [ kəm pṓnənt ]

noun (plural com·po·nents)

Definition:

1. part: a part of something, usually of something bigger

a manufacturer of vehicle components

one of several major components of our research

2. electricity electric part: a device such as a resistor or transistor that is part of an electronic circuit

3. mathematics vector: one of a set of vectors whose combination resultant is another vector

4. chemistry constituent substance: one of the substances necessary to describe each phase of a chemical system

adjective

Definition:

forming part: forming part of a whole

[Mid-16th century. < Latin component-, present participle of componere "put together" < ponere "to place"]

com·po·nen·tial [ kòmpə nénsh'l ] adjective

Also on Encarta

•	10 tips for building your English vocabulary

•	Alternatives to the M.B.A.

•	GPS for students

•	Saving for college

•	Presidential Myths Quiz

•

Coffee break: Recharge your brain

Our Partners

•	ApplyWise Online College Admissions Counseling

•	The Princeton Review

•

Tutor.com: Live Help When You Get Stuck

Also on MSN

•	Project Earth: Big Ideas for Saving the Planet on the Discovery Channel

•	MSN Shopping: Best books for the season

•	MSN Careers: Nail that job interview

•

Today's news on MSNBC


MSN Shopping