Other forms: components
A component is one of the pieces a machine is built from. Electronic components, a faulty component, replace the component.
It is the technical word: a machine has components, a system has parts, and an argument has elements. Component failure is what an engineer reports rather than the thing broke. As an adjective it means making up a whole: the component parts. In computing, a component is a self-contained piece of software designed to be reused. Note that a component is defined by belonging to something larger.
1nouncomponentOne of the pieces a machine is built from.
“The factory makes small electronic components for car engines.”
2adjectivemakingMaking up a whole.
“The component parts are all made in different countries.”
component is a part of a whole.
Latin componens comes from componere, to put together — com-, together, plus ponere, to place. Compose, composite and compound are the same verb, so a component is something placed together with others.
Latin
componens
English, today
component
Built from
Latin componens, present participle of compōnō (“assemble, put together”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA