trace element

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. any element that is required in minute quantities for physiological functioning.

trace element

noun

1. any of various chemical elements, such as iron, manganese, zinc, copper, and iodine, that occur in very small amounts in organisms and are essential for many physiological and biochemical processes

trace element

/ trās /

1. An element present in an organism in only very small amounts but essential for normal metabolism. Iodine and cobalt are trace elements required by humans.

Word History and Origins

Origin of trace element¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

“An analysis of the jar’s trace elements should solve the question of what was inside when the vessel went under,” Dr. Sharvit said.

From New York Times

Fertilizers in the study showed different concentrations of trace elements, with higher levels observed in fertilizers from the U.S. and the Middle East compared to those from China and India.

From Science Daily

Like the tree pollen that might be plaguing you this spring, small concentrations of trace elements in the air can have significant negative impacts on human health.

From Science Daily

Storage of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, but also of many trace elements, are considered a crucial ecosystem service of places like the Wester- and the Oosterschelde.

From Science Daily

Findings from the study provide important baseline data needed to further assess the pathophysiological mechanisms and ecotoxicological hazards associated with exposure to and accumulation of trace elements in tissues of free-ranging whales and dolphins.

From Science Daily