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trace element
noun
: a chemical element present in minute quantities
especially
: a micronutrient (such as iodine, iron, and zinc) with an optimum daily intake of typically less than 100 milligrams a day
Examples of trace element in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The La Roche-Posay thermal spring water is sourced in the town of La Roche-Posay in France and contains minerals, trace elements, and a high concentration of selenium, a natural antioxidant.
—Enjanae' Taylor, Southern Living, 2 May 2024
Using a fertilizer that contains micronutrients – trace elements like magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), and Boron (B) – at least occasionally, will help avoid deficiencies in those elements as well.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 4 Jan. 2024
Some people prefer broad-spectrum for the potential entourage effect, while others choose isolates to avoid any trace elements of other cannabinoids.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 18 Oct. 2023
Zinc Zinc is an essential trace element that helps control muscle growth and repair.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 6 Oct. 2023
But boron is a naturally occurring trace element that is considered a micronutrient.
—Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 4 Sep. 2023
Besides, these 1970s and ’80s sci-fi franchises so dominated the culture (see also Star Wars and everything featured in Ready Player One) that trace elements of it were in the water supply for every Gen-Xer and millennial.
—Theater Review Aug. 3, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2023
Some TikTok creators who are working to debunk the borax trend are also suggesting that people may be conflating borax with boron, which is a trace element found in many foods.
—Julia Landwehr, Health, 3 Aug. 2023
In the past, many Americans were deficient in this trace element.
—Becca Miller, Women's Health, 1 Aug. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trace element.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1932, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near trace element
Cite this Entry
“Trace element.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trace%20element. Accessed 1 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
trace element
noun
: a chemical element present in tiny amounts
especially
: one that is used by a living thing and is considered essential to the functions necessary for life
Medical Definition
trace element
noun
: a chemical element present in minute quantities
especially
: a micronutrient (as iodine, iron, and zinc) with an optimum daily intake of typically less than 100 milligrams
More from Merriam-Webster on trace element
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about trace element
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