The word 消除 is formed by combining two independent characters, each contributing its core meaning to create a new, composite concept. The first character, 消, carries the fundamental idea of something dissolving, fading away, or disappearing (like mist or ice melting). The second character, 除, fundamentally means to remove, eliminate, or get rid of something (like weeds or dirt). When paired, their meanings merge and reinforce one another, picturing the process of causing something to fade away and be removed, thus arriving at the integrated meaning of "to eliminate", "to dispel", or "to clear away".