term

[ turm ]

/ tɜrm /

Save This Word!

noun

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.

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

the time or period through which something lasts.

a period of time to which limits have been set: elected for a term of four years.

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

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

terms,

conditions with regard to payment, price, charge, rates, wages, etc.: reasonable terms.
conditions or stipulations limiting what is proposed to be granted or done: the terms of a treaty.
footing or standing; relations: on good terms with someone.
Obsolete. state, situation, or circumstances.

Algebra, Arithmetic.

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

Logic.

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

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.

Law.

an estate or interest in land or the like, to be enjoyed for a fixed period.
the duration of an estate.
each of the periods during which certain courts of law hold their sessions.

completion of pregnancy; parturition.

Archaic.

end, conclusion, or termination.
boundary or limit.

verb (used with object)

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

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about term

bring to terms, to force to agree to stated demands or conditions; bring into submission: After a long struggle, we brought them to terms.

come to terms,

to reach an agreement; make an arrangement: to come to terms with a creditor.
to become resigned or accustomed: to come to terms with one's life.

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

in terms of, with regard to; concerning: The book offers nothing in terms of a satisfactory conclusion.

Origin of term

1175–1225; Middle English terme<Old French <Latin terminus boundary, limit, end; akin to Greek térmōn limit

OTHER WORDS FROM term

termly, adverbhalf-term, nounin·ter·term, adjectivemis·term, verb (used with object)

Words nearby term

tergite, tergiversate, tergum, Terhune, teriyaki, term, termagant, term day, termer, terminable, terminal

Other definitions for term (2 of 2)

term.

abbreviation

terminal.

termination.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use term in a sentence

Meanwhile, you can’t currently report potential violations of those terms without handing over your email address.
You’ve been invited to Clubhouse. Your privacy hasn’t.|Sara Morrison|February 12, 2021|Vox
You point out that using the term "mansplaining" overgeneralizes, so I won't call this behavior "momsplaining."
Miss Manners: Practice saying ‘I’ve got it, thanks’|Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin, Jacobina Martin|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
He said he hopes that he and his staff have built up “some trust and credibility” in terms of their vetting of players.
Trevor Bauer, unorthodox star with an unorthodox deal, gets an unorthodox Dodgers intro|Chelsea Janes|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
The term “AI audit” can mean many different things, which makes it hard to trust the results of audits in general.
Auditors are testing hiring algorithms for bias, but there’s no easy fix|Amy Nordrum|February 11, 2021|MIT Technology Review

It sounds like a small adjustment, but it can make a big difference in terms of driving feel.
Audi’s e-Tron GT charges up fast, but turns even faster|Stan Horaczek|February 10, 2021|Popular-Science
But on Thursday Boxer triggered a Golden State political earthquake, announcing that she would not seek a fifth term in 2016.
The Golden State Preps for the ‘Red Wedding’ of Senate Races|David Freedlander|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Term limits could be a prescription to speed change along.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Congress|Dean Obeidallah|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Wrapees was the term marines used for the Japanese because they had wrapping round their legs.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
This was later repurposed in Europe as an explanation for racial superiority, and the term “Aryan” came to define a white race.
The Himalayas’ Hidden Aryans|Nina Strochlic|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He won re-election twice as governor of New York, and had the hubris to run for a fourth term before being defeated in 1994.
Mario Cuomo, a Frustrating Hero to Democrats, Is Dead at 82|Eleanor Clift|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
So he bore down on the solemn declaration that she stood face to face with a prison term for perjury.
The Bondboy|George W. (George Washington) Ogden
All changes are to be Rang either by walking them (as the term is) or else Whole-pulls, or Half-pulls.
Tintinnalogia, or, the Art of Ringing|Richard Duckworth and Fabian Stedman
These practical demonstrations occurred usually in the opening enthusiasm of the term.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
I shall show how it is possible thus to prolong life to the term set by God.
The Mediaeval Mind (Volume II of II)|Henry Osborn Taylor
But men, through neglecting the rules of health, pass quickly to old age, and die before reaching that term.
The Mediaeval Mind (Volume II of II)|Henry Osborn Taylor

British Dictionary definitions for term

term

/ (tɜːm) /

noun

a name, expression, or word used for some particular thing, esp in a specialized field of knowledgea medical term

any word or expression

a limited period of timehis second term of office; a prison term

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

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

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

law

an estate or interest in land limited to run for a specified perioda term of years
the duration of an estate, etc
(formerly) a period of time during which sessions of courts of law were held
time allowed to a debtor to settle

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

logic

the word or phrase that forms either the subject or predicate of a proposition
a name or variable, as opposed to a predicate
one of the relata of a relation
any of the three subjects or predicates occurring in a syllogism

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

Australian rules football the usual word for quarter (def. 10)

archaic a boundary or limit

verb

(tr) to designate; callhe was termed a thief

Derived forms of term

termly, adverb

Word Origin for term

C13: from Old French terme, from Latin terminus end

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for term

term

[ tûrm ]

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

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

term

Idioms about term

Origin of term

OTHER WORDS FROM term

Words nearby term

Other definitions for term (2 of 2)

Words related to term

How to use term in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for term

Derived forms of term

Word Origin for term

Scientific definitions for term