component,
n. 1a. one of the elements of the ordered set that represents a vector, such as 2 in 〈1, 2, 3〉.
b. more generally, one of a set of two or more vectors of which the resultant is a given vector, especially one of such a set of orthogonal vectors lying in a specified direction such as parallel to a coordinate axis. Thus in this sense, the second component of 〈1, 2, 3〉 is 〈0, 2, 0〉. 2. the effect in a specified direction of a physical quantity such as a force. If a vector represents the magnitude and direction of the physical quantity, its component in any direction is represented by the projection of the vector onto a line in the specified direction. For example, in
the component of the vector AB in the direction of 
is 
.
3. (of a topological space) a maximal connected subset of the given space. For example, the set of positive x and y with xy = 1 is a component of the corresponding hyperbola.
4. (Statistics) any one of the variables of a multivariate distribution. 5.(logic) any of the atomic statements making up a compound statement.
b. more generally, one of a set of two or more vectors of which the resultant is a given vector, especially one of such a set of orthogonal vectors lying in a specified direction such as parallel to a coordinate axis. Thus in this sense, the second component of 〈1, 2, 3〉 is 〈0, 2, 0〉. 2. the effect in a specified direction of a physical quantity such as a force. If a vector represents the magnitude and direction of the physical quantity, its component in any direction is represented by the projection of the vector onto a line in the specified direction. For example, in
is .
3. (of a topological space) a maximal connected subset of the given space. For example, the set of positive x and y with xy = 1 is a component of the corresponding hyperbola.
4. (Statistics) any one of the variables of a multivariate distribution. 5.(logic) any of the atomic statements making up a compound statement.