in or connected with the first stages of a course of study 初级的；基础的 an elementary English course 基础英语课程 a book for elementary students 初学者课本 at an elementary level 处于初级水平 I'm taking classes in elementary Italian. 我在上意大利语基础课程。
of the most basic kind 基本的 It's an elementary law of economics: the scarcer the commodity, the higher the price. 这是经济学的基本法则：商品越稀缺，价格越高。 How could you make such an elementary mistake? 你怎么能犯这种根本性错误？ I made some rather elementary mistakes. 我犯了一些相当简单的错误。
very simple and easy 简单的；容易的 elementary questions 简单的问题
Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘composed of the four elements, earth, air, fire, and water’): from Latin elementarius, from elementum ‘principle’, translating Greek stoikheion ‘step, component part’. Current senses date from the mid 16th cent.