term

[ turm ]

/ tɜrm /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR term ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

Nearby words

Idioms

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

Related formsterm·ly, adverbhalf-term, nounin·ter·term, adjectivemis·term, verb (used with object)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for terms

Lacey Noonan's A Gronking to Remember makes 50 Shades of Grey look like Madame Bovary in terms of its literary sophistication.
‘A Gronking to Remember’ Speed Read: 8 Naughtiest Bits|Emily Shire|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Yet to hear one of the victims so publicly rejecting the kinds of terms used in the past was inspiring.
Jennifer Lawrence’s Righteous Fury Says Everything We Wanted to Say|Kevin O’Keeffe|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Maybe I have come more to terms with, somewhere over the years, that people will think whatever they think.
Daphne Merkin on Lena Dunham, Book Criticism, and Self-Examination|Mindy Farabee|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The rift put Washington at odds with countries like Brazil, Uruguay or Chile, which seemed to have come to terms with their past.
Venezuela Says Goodbye to Its Lil Friend, While the Rest of the Continent Cheers|Catalina Lobo-Guererro|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Joseph LaRocca says some companies are upping the ante in terms of fending off return fraudsters.
The Insane $11 Billion Scam at Retailers’ Return Desks|M.L. Nestel|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is to be reckoned, not in terms of knowledge and organization, but of character.
Progress and History|Various
Now, clean-ness, or neat-ness, is one of the elements that make hypocoristic terms (or terms of endearment) applicable.
Opuscula|Robert Gordon Latham
For a man to call himself a Christian Evolutionist is (we have been told by high Orthodox authority) a contradiction in terms.
The Arena|Various
The line of Messrs. Featherstonhaugh and Mudge is even less in conformity to the terms of the treaty.
A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents: Tyler|Compiled by James D. Richardson
“It will frighten the rest, who will soon come to terms, and agree to pay any tribute I may demand,” observed the rajah.
The Young Rajah|W.H.G. Kingston

British Dictionary definitions for terms (1 of 2)

terms

/ (tɜːmz) /

pl n

(usually specified prenominally) the actual language or mode of presentation usedhe described the project in loose terms

conditions of an agreementyou work here on our terms

a sum of money paid for a service or credit; charges

(usually preceded by on) mutual relationship or standingthey are on affectionate terms

in terms of as expressed by; regardingin terms of money he was no better off

come to terms to reach acceptance or agreementto come to terms with one's failings

British Dictionary definitions for terms (2 of 2)

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

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

Word Origin and History for terms (1 of 3)

terms

"limiting conditions," early 14c.; see term. Hence expressions such as come to terms, make terms, on any terms, etc. Meaning "standing, footing, mutual relations," as in expression on good terms (with someone), is recorded from 1540s.

Word Origin and History for terms (1 of 3)

term

early 13c., terme "limit in time, set or appointed period," from Old French terme "limit of time or place" (11c.), from Latin terminus "end, boundary line," related to termen "boundary, end" (see terminus). Old English had termen "term, end," from Latin. Sense of "period of time during which something happens" first recorded c.1300, especially of a school or law court session (mid-15c.).

The meaning "word or phrase used in a limited or precise sense" is first recorded late 14c., from Medieval Latin use to render Greek horos "boundary," employed in mathematics and logic. Meaning "completion of the period of pregnancy" is from 1844. Term-paper in U.S. educational sense is recorded from 1931.

Word Origin and History for terms (2 of 3)

term

"to give a particular name to," mid-16c., from term (n.). Related: Termed; terming.

Medicine definitions for terms

term

[ tûrm ]

n.

A limited period of time.

The end of a normal gestation period.

Science definitions for terms

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.

Idioms and Phrases with terms

terms

see bring to terms; come to terms with; contradiction in terms; in no uncertain terms; in terms of; on good terms; on speaking terms.

term

noun

verb (used with object)

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Origin of term

Examples from the Web for terms

British Dictionary definitions for terms (1 of 2)

terms

pl n

British Dictionary definitions for terms (2 of 2)

term

noun

verb

Word Origin for term

Word Origin and History for terms (1 of 3)

terms

Word Origin and History for terms (1 of 3)

term

Word Origin and History for terms (2 of 3)

term

Medicine definitions for terms

term

n.

Science definitions for terms

term

Idioms and Phrases with terms

terms