term

¹ American  

[turm] / tɜrm /

noun

1. a word or group of words designating something, especially in a particular field, as atom in physics, quietism in theology, adze in carpentry, or district leader in politics.

2. any word or group of words considered as a member of a construction or utterance.

3. the time or period through which something lasts.

4. a period of time to which limits have been set.

   elected for a term of four years.

5. one of two or more divisions of a school year, during which instruction is regularly provided.

6. an appointed or set time or date, as for the payment of rent, interest, wages, etc.

7. terms,

   1. conditions with regard to payment, price, charge, rates, wages, etc..

      reasonable terms.

   2. conditions or stipulations limiting what is proposed to be granted or done.

      the terms of a treaty.

   3. footing or standing; relations.

      on good terms with someone.

   4. Obsolete. state, situation, or circumstances.

8. Algebra, Arithmetic.

   1. each of the members of which an expression, a series of quantities, or the like, is composed, as one of two or more parts of an algebraic expression.

   2. a mathematical expression of the form axp, axpyq, etc., where a, p, and q are numbers and x and y are variables.

9. Logic.

   1. the subject or predicate of a categorical proposition.

   2. the word or expression denoting the subject or predicate of a categorical proposition.

10. Also called terminus.  a figure, especially of Terminus, in the form of a herm, used by the ancient Romans as a boundary marker; terminal figure.

11. Law.

    1. an estate or interest in land or the like, to be enjoyed for a fixed period.

    2. the duration of an estate.

    3. each of the periods during which certain courts of law hold their sessions.

12. completion of pregnancy; parturition.

13. Archaic.

    1. end, conclusion, or termination.

    2. boundary or limit.

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verb (used with object)

1. to apply a particular term or name to; name; call; designate.

idioms

1. bring to terms, to force to agree to stated demands or conditions; bring into submission.

   After a long struggle, we brought them to terms.

2. come to terms,

   1. to reach an agreement; make an arrangement.

      to come to terms with a creditor.

   2. to become resigned or accustomed.

      to come to terms with one's life.

3. eat one's terms, to study for the bar; be a law student.

4. in terms of, with regard to; concerning.

   The book offers nothing in terms of a satisfactory conclusion.

term. ² American  

abbreviation

1. terminal.

2. termination.

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term British  

/ tɜːm /

noun

1. a name, expression, or word used for some particular thing, esp in a specialized field of knowledge

   a medical term

2. any word or expression

3. a limited period of time

   his second term of office

   a prison term

4. any of the divisions of the academic year during which a school, college, etc, is in session

5. a point in time determined for an event or for the end of a period

6. Also called: full term.  the period at which childbirth is imminent

7. law

   1. an estate or interest in land limited to run for a specified period

      a term of years

   2. the duration of an estate, etc

   3. (formerly) a period of time during which sessions of courts of law were held

   4. time allowed to a debtor to settle

8. maths either of the expressions the ratio of which is a fraction or proportion, any of the separate elements of a sequence, or any of the individual addends of a polynomial or series

9. logic

   1. the word or phrase that forms either the subject or predicate of a proposition

   2. a name or variable, as opposed to a predicate

   3. one of the relata of a relation

   4. any of the three subjects or predicates occurring in a syllogism

10. Also called: terminal.   terminus.   terminal figure.  architect a sculptured post, esp one in the form of an armless bust or an animal on the top of a square pillar

11. Australian rules football the usual word for quarter

12. archaic a boundary or limit

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verb

1. (tr) to designate; call

   he was termed a thief

term Scientific  

/ tûrm /

1. Each of the quantities or expressions that form the parts of a ratio or the numerator and denominator of a fraction.

2. Any of the quantities in an equation that are connected to other quantities by a plus sign or a minus sign.

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Usage

What is a term? In algebra, a term is an individual number or variable or a combination of them, such as 7, x, or 5y.In a similar way, a term is also a word or a group of words, especially those that belong to a specific field. For example, modifier is a grammar term used to describe a word or phrase that limits or qualifies something else. A term can also be any word or phrase. We use term in these articles to describe the word or phrase we’re talking about (check out “Where does term come from?” below for an example).Its plural form, terms, can refer to a set of rules or conditions, such as the terms for repaying a loan or the terms for a truce.To term something is to name or designate something, as in Rainey termed her mother’s angry look the “Rainey Is in Trouble” look.Term can also do with time. Any period of time with a beginning and an end can be called a term. A division of a school year is often called a term, as is the period a politician serves in a specific office. A US president serves a term of four years and can only serve two terms, for example.Example: Always read the terms of service before signing on to a new service.

Other Word Forms

• half-term noun
• interterm adjective
• misterm verb (used with object)
• termly adverb

Etymology

Origin of term

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English terme, from Old French, from Latin terminus “boundary, limit, end”; akin to Greek térmōn “limit”

Example Sentences

Morales, who served three terms as president between 2006 and 2019, had attempted to stand again in this year's election but was barred by constitutional term limits.

From Barron's

He eventually expropriated assets from foreign investors that refused to accept these new terms.

From Barron's

From a longer term perspective, the S&P 500 has touched its 50-month simple moving average only five times over the past 15 years.

From Barron's

Business development “is about, for us, supplementing the growth rates in the medium term,” Hardy, the CEO, said at an investor conference in November.

From Barron's

Under the terms, the “most-favored nation” prices offered by companies would apply to the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• course
• duration
• phase
• quarter
• session
• time