term

[ turm ]

/ tɜrm /

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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.

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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)

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

That very weird injury allows him just enough time to bid a teary goodbye to Sam, and allows Sam enough time to come to terms with the fact that it’s really the final goodbye.
Supernatural’s bonkers series finale marked the end of an era of fandom|Aja Romano|November 20, 2020|Vox
He also said that Bjergsen’s move to coaching seemed like a natural extension of the work he was already doing in terms of helping his teammates improve and his interest in using analytical tools provided to the team by Logitech.
The enduring and ongoing legacy of Bjergsen|Noah Smith|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
The reflex is a shortcut, a way to avoid thinking long and hard about patronizing a restaurant in terms of “who to show support to tonight” when the options are overwhelming and the need particularly pressing.
Overwhelmed by How to Help the Restaurant Industry? Make a List.|Erin DeJesus|November 20, 2020|Eater
Enjoying a nouveau may help us come to terms with it and put it behind us.
We deserve ‘nouveau’ wine in 2020 — a vintage meant to be fun and drunk right away|Dave McIntyre|November 20, 2020|Washington Post

This includes the implementation of a layered approach in terms of health and safety measures.
What will Inauguration Day look like amid a pandemic?|Emily Davies, Justin Jouvenal|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
This approach, sometimes termed “controlled choice,” is a hot topic lately in education policy circles (and in my own house).
The Real Reasons New York has the Country’s Most Segregated Schools|Conor P. Williams|March 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was bare armed under a protective jacket a jail official termed “a kind of flak jacket.”
Ex-Cop’s Shooting of Texting Moviegoer Ends in Tragedy|Michael Daly|January 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Washington termed our endless and thankless task counterinsurgency—and Anbaris made good insurgents, very good insurgents.
Their Fight…But Our Legacy: The New Battle for Fallujah|John Kael Weston|January 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He spoke of how well the present campaign had done in his home borough, particularly in a swath that he termed West Brooklyn.
Bill De Blasio’s Retro Values Are Back in Fashion|Michael Daly|September 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The second of the three-headed House immigration monster is what's termed the 'Gang of Six.'
The House of Representatives' Confusing 3-Headed Immigration Monster|Justin Green|May 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
A remnant of the long parliament assembled during the anarchy, and has been termed the rump.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Many of them have been termed as satirical pipes taking off some public character a la Nast.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
The backs are mostly cut the reverse way of the grain to the present rule, forming what are now termed "slab" backs.
Violins and Violin Makers|Joseph Pearce
On the other hand, if too thin the emission is comparatively easy, but lacks intensity and is termed "hollow."
Antonio Stradivari|Horace William Petherick
Those subject to what are termed wolfy notes can be remedied or the bad notes shifted to less important ones.
Violins and Violin Makers|Joseph Pearce

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

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