elemental

C1 · Advanced Literary

adj. powerful and natural, like a great storm or a wild fire.

adj. relating to or resembling the great forces of nature, especially in being powerful, raw, or uncontrollable.

“The sailors struggled against the elemental power of the ocean storm.”

“The poet's work often explores the elemental struggle between man and the harsh, unyielding landscape of the north.”

C1 · Advanced Science Technical

adj. related to the simplest chemical substances that cannot be broken down further.

adj. pertaining to or being a chemical element as opposed to a compound.

“The lab analyzed the elemental composition of the soil sample.”

“The researcher used spectroscopy to determine the elemental makeup of the distant star's atmosphere.”

C2 · Proficiency Archaic · Literary

adj. related to the ancient ideas of earth, air, fire, and water.

adj. relating to the four classical elements of ancient and medieval philosophy: earth, air, fire, and water.

Español:elemental

“Ancient doctors believed that health depended on a balance of elemental forces.”

“The alchemist's manuscript detailed the supposed elemental transformations required to turn lead into gold.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Literary

n. a magical creature or spirit made of one thing, like fire or water.

n. a supernatural entity or spirit associated with one of the four classical elements.

“In the story, a fire elemental lived deep inside the volcano.”

“The fantasy novel depicts earth elementals as slow, massive creatures made entirely of living stone and clay.”