essential elements
Necessary building blocks
Essential elements are the fundamental components required for something to exist, function, or succeed.
In nutrition, these are substances the body cannot produce and must obtain from food.
In law, essential elements are the facts a prosecutor must prove to establish a crime.
More generally, the phrase identifies what cannot be removed without destroying the thing itself: The essential elements of a good mystery are suspense and misdirection.
- life forceAnimating vital energy
- power sourceOrigin of energy
- oxygenElement eight, colorless gas
- waterClear essential liquid
- vital signsMeasurable life indicators
basic needs · hydrogen · protein · amino acids · carbon · core values · carbohydrates · calcium · nitrogen · iron · glucose · potassium · building blocks · building material · bare bones · nuts and bolts · foundation · lipids
- foundationsfoundation, foundations, base, footing, footings
- element groupsalkali metals, halogens, noble gases, transition metals, lanthanides
essential elementsnonessentials
Items not required
nice-to-haves · luxuries · frills · bells and whistles · add-ons
essential elementsincidentals
Minor, unplanned expenses
minor details · side issues · minutiae · footnotes · afterthoughts
essential elementsembellishments
Decorative extras added on
decorative elements · window dressing · finishing touches · trimmings · flourishes
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