Definition of "elementary" in English

adjective

1. Relating to the basic, essential or fundamental part of something.

2. Very simple.

3. Relating to an elementary school.

4. (sciences) Fundamental: serving as a building block for more complicated structures or processes.

5. (mathematics, of an argument or proof) Straightforward, employing only basic techniques; not requiring substantial knowledge (of some particular domain, object, etc.).

6. (archaic) Sublunary; not celestial; belonging to the sublunary sphere, to which the four classical elements (earth, air, fire and water) were confined; composed of or pertaining to these four elements.

noun

1. (countable and uncountable, informal) Ellipsis of elementary school.

   • At Lakeside Elementary I learned to appreciate the forest.

2. (countable, mythology, mysticism) A supernatural being associated with the elements.