term
/təːm
/noun
1A word or phrase used to describe a thing or to express a concept, especially in a particular kind of language or branch of study: the musical term ‘leitmotiv’ a term of abuse...
- But some of the older topics are now passé, and language, terms, and topics shift and adapt.
- It is significant that the term entered the language at a time of ineffective monarchical rule, in the mid-fifteenth century.
- In official language, this occurs through the use of technical terms - acronyms and jargon.
Synonyms
word, expression, phrase, turn of phrase, idiom, locution;
name, title, denomination, designation, label
formal appellation
1.1 (terms) Language used on a particular occasion; a way of expressing oneself: a protest in the strongest possible terms...
- In recent months she has shamelessly mentioned Saab on more than 30 occasions and never in less than ecstatic terms.
- It is feasible he made his point in even stronger terms in the dressing room beforehand, but there was little evidence early on of his sermon provoking the desired reaction.
Synonyms
language, mode of expression, manner of speaking, phraseology, terminology;
words, phrases, expressions
1.2 Logic A word or words that may be the subject or predicate of a proposition.Every simple proposition contains two terms, predicate and subject....
- There is no king of France at present; the subject term fails to refer to anything.
2A fixed or limited period for which something, for example office, imprisonment, or investment, lasts or is intended to last: the President is elected for a single four-year term...
- However, now they have to illustrate what they plan to do in the next four years, the term of their office.
- The elected council members are set to begin their four-year term of office on Dec.31.
- Another significant section of the overturned clauses dealt with a fixed term of office for the Chief Prosecutor.
Synonyms
period, period of time, time, length of time, spell, stint, duration;
interval, stretch, run, phase;
term of office, period of office, incumbency, administration
2.1 (also term day) (Especially in Scotland) a fixed day of the year appointed for the making of payments, the start or end of tenancies, etc.
2.2 (also full term) [mass noun] The completion of a normal length of pregnancy: I was really keen to go to term and to have a home birth...
- She had an uneventful pregnancy and at term underwent a cesarean section.
- All of the mothers studied were in spontaneous labor at term with singleton pregnancies in cephalic presentations.
- Pregnant women at term with rupture of membranes before labour are subjected to routine induction of labour.
2.3 (British also term of years or US term for years) Law A tenancy of a fixed period.The right to request a new tenancy when the tenancy ‘could be brought to an end by notice to quit given by the tenant’ was held not to apply to a lease for a term of years....
- Then the government leases the work from the builder for a fixed term of years, during which it has to be maintained by its maker.
- The vendor would not sell without receiving his purchase money, and the mortgagee would not provide the purchase money without receiving the term of years.
2.4 archaic The duration of a person’s life.
2.5 archaic A boundary or limit, especially of time.
3Each of the periods in the year, alternating with holiday or vacation, during which instruction is given in a school, college, or university, or during which a law court holds sessions: the summer term term starts tomorrow...
- Around 300,000 young people are finishing their first term at university in the UK.
- For a lot of faculty members, in short, the end of a term is no vacation, but a mad scramble for survival.
- He also worked part time tutoring during the university term.
Synonyms
session;
North American semester, trimester, quarter
4 (terms) Conditions under which an action may be undertaken or agreement reached; stipulated or agreed requirements: their solicitors had agreed terms he could only be dealt with on his own terms...
- But he was not prepared to commit to any decisions of policy, or reach any terms of agreement with the British Premier.
- But being able to make compromises on your own terms means you can live with them.
- Did the record-company people have designs for you, or were they ready to hear you on your own terms?
4.1Conditions with regard to payment for something; stated charges: loans on favourable terms...
- We then proceeded to negotiate a commercial fee, terms and conditions of payment.
- Credit terms and price charged for goods were set based upon this analysis.
- He also said that the terms and conditions and pricing information are ‘very confusing’.
Synonyms
conditions, stipulations, specifications, provisions, provisos;
restrictions, qualifications;
particulars, details, points, clauses, articles
rates, prices, charges, costs, fees;
tariff
4.2Agreed conditions under which a war or other dispute is brought to an end: the United States played a key role in prodding the two sides to come to terms...
- Both parties should come to terms and embrace dialogue.
- The parties should come to terms on the issue quickly before it gets out of control.
- This broad topic was agreed upon after the two sides failed to come to terms on more specific topics.
Synonyms
reach (an) agreement/understanding, come to an agreement/understanding, make a deal, reach a compromise, meet each other halfway, establish a middle ground, be reconciled
5 Mathematics Each of the quantities in a ratio, series, or mathematical expression.A geometric series is defined as having a constant ratio between consecutive terms....
- As you go farther and farther to the right in this sequence, the ratio of a term to the one before it will get closer and closer to the Golden Ratio.
- This uses a technique known as the integral test which compares the graph of a function with the terms of the series.
6 Architecture another term for terminus.
verb [with object and usually with complement]
Give a descriptive name to; call by a specified term: he has been termed the father of modern theology...
- His rare talent means Joshua has been termed an art savant, a name given to someone who is gifted in a certain area.
- A former wife of the father had termed the father a prime case for child abuse.
- Traditionally, the Vedas have been handed down from one generation to another and many were opposed to recording it in the form of a cassette terming it a commercial venture.
Synonyms
call, name, entitle, title, style, designate, describe as, dub, label, tag;
nickname
rare denominate
Phrases
come to terms with
in terms of (or in —— terms)
the long/short/medium term
on terms
on —— terms
terms of reference
Origin
Middle English (denoting a limit in space or time, or (in the plural) limiting conditions): from Old French terme, from Latin terminus 'end, boundary, limit'.