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elementary

Syllabification: (el·e·men·ta·ry)
Pronunciation: /ˌeləˈment(ə)rē/
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Definition of elementary

adjective

  • of or relating to the most rudimentary aspects of a subject:the six stages take students from elementary to advanced level
  • easily dealt with; straightforward and uncomplicated:it’s interesting work, although a lot of it is elementary
  • not decomposable into elements or other primary constituents.

Derivatives

elementarily

Pronunciation: /-rəlē/
adverb

elementariness

noun

Origin:

late Middle English (in the sense 'composed of the four elements, earth, air, fire, and water'): from Latin elementarius, from elementum 'principle, rudiment' (see element). Current senses dates from the mid 16th century

elementary in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of elementary in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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