Component that defies analysis (7)
I believe the answer is:
element
'component' is the definition.
(I know that component can be written as element)
I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for element that I've seen before include "He, say" , "part of a toaster" , "Component - habitat" , "Chemical building block" , "Ingredient - small amount" .)