trace element

English

Etymology

Compound of trace (“very small amount”) +‎ element (“chemical element”).

Noun

trace element (plural trace elements)

  1. (chemistry) A chemical element present in a sample in very small quantities.
  2. (biochemistry, nutrition) A chemical element in an organism’s diet that is required in very small amounts in order to maintain proper biochemical function.
    Synonyms: micronutrient, micromineral, microelement
    Antonyms: nutrient, macronutrient, electrolyte
    Hypernym: nutrient
    Hyponyms: vitamin, trace mineral

Translations
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