bestandsdelen

Bestandsdelen is a Dutch noun that refers to the parts that together form a whole. A bestandsdeel is a constituent, component, or ingredient of a larger object, process, or system. The plural bestandsdelen denotes several such parts. The term is used across fields to describe what makes up something, whether a physical substance, a plan, or an abstract concept.

In natural sciences and engineering, bestandsdelen describe the substances or elements that compose a compound, alloy, or device. In chemistry, for example, the bestandsdelen of a solution include the solvent and the dissolved substances. In food and pharmaceuticals, the word appears on labels as the list of ingredients or bestandsdelen of a product. In law and policy, it can refer to the essential elements that define a norm or regulation. In information technology, although component or onderdeel are more common, bestandsdelen can be used to emphasize how a system is assembled from multiple parts.

Etymology and synonyms: The word combines bestand ('contents, stock') with deel ('part'). Close synonyms include onderdeel, component, ingrediënt (in culinary contexts). The nuance is that bestandsdelen highlights the idea of a whole composed of discrete parts.

See also: bestanddeel, onderdeel, component, ingrediënt.