The noun has 7 meanings:
Meaning #1:
an abstract part of something
Synonyms: component, constituent, factor, ingredient
Meaning #2:
any of the more than 100 known substances (of which 92 occur naturally) that cannot be separated into simpler substances and that singly or in combination constitute all matter
Synonym: chemical element
Meaning #3:
an artifact that is one of the individual parts of which a composite entity is made up; especially a part that can be separated from or attached to a system
Synonyms: component, constituent
Meaning #4:
one of four substances thought in ancient and medieval cosmology to constitute the physical universe
Meaning #5:
the most favorable environment for a plant or animal
Meaning #6:
the situation in which you are happiest and most effective
Meaning #7:
a straight line that generates a cylinder or cone




