trace element

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English[edit]

 trace element on Wikipedia

Etymology[edit]

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

Noun[edit]

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[edit]