noun
1.
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.
a.
conditions with regard to payment, price, charge, rates, wages, etc.: reasonable terms.
b.
conditions or stipulations limiting what is proposed to be granted or done: the terms of a treaty.
c.
footing or standing; relations: on good terms with someone.
d.
Obsolete. state, situation, or circumstances.
8.
Algebra, Arithmetic.
a.
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.
b.
a mathematical expression of the form axp, axpyq, etc., where a, p, and q are numbers and x and y are variables.
9.
Logic.
a.
the subject or predicate of a categorical proposition.
b.
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.
a.
an estate or interest in land or the like, to be enjoyed for a fixed period.
b.
the duration of an estate.
c.
each of the periods during which certain courts of law hold their sessions.
12.
completion of pregnancy; parturition.
13.
Archaic.
a.
end, conclusion, or termination.
b.
boundary or limit.
verb (used with object)
14.
to apply a particular term or name to; name; call; designate.
00:10
Term
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is hornswoggle. Does it mean:
| to spend time idly; loaf. |
| to swindle, cheat, hoodwink, or hoax. |
15.
bring to terms, to force to agree to stated demands or conditions; bring into submission: After a long struggle, we brought them to terms.
16.
come to terms,
a.
to reach an agreement; make an arrangement: to come to terms with a creditor.
b.
to become resigned or accustomed: to come to terms with one's life.
17.
eat one's terms, British Informal. to study for the bar; be a law student.
18.
in terms of, with regard to; concerning: The book offers nothing in terms of a satisfactory conclusion.
Origin:
1175–1225; Middle English terme < Old French < Latin terminus boundary, limit, end; akin to Greek térmōn limit
1175–1225; Middle English terme < Old French < Latin terminus boundary, limit, end; akin to Greek térmōn limit
Related forms
term·ly, adverb
half-term, noun
in·ter·term, adjective
mis·term, verb (used with object)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
term.
1.
2.
term of art
Also called word of art.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To Term
Collins
World English Dictionary
term (tɜːm) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 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 |
| a. an estate or interest in land limited to run for a specified period: a term of years | |
| b. the duration of an estate, etc | |
| c. (formerly) a period of time during which sessions of courts of law were held | |
| d. 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 |
| a. the word or phrase that forms either the subject or predicate of a proposition | |
| b. a name or variable, as opposed to a predicate | |
| c. one of the relata of a relation | |
| d. any of the three subjects or predicates occurring in a syllogism | |
| 10. | architect terminal, terminus, Also called: terminal figure 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 |
| —vb | |
| 13. | (tr) to designate; call: he was termed a thief |
| [C13: from Old French terme, from Latin terminus end] | |
| 'termly | |
| —adv | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
term
early 13c., terme "limit in time, set or appointed period," from O.Fr. terme "limit of time or place" (11c.), from L. terminus "end, boundary line," related to termen "boundary, end" (see terminus). 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 M.L. use to render Gk. horos "boundary," employed in mathematics and logic. Meaning "completion of the period of pregnancy" is from 1844. The verb meaning "to give a particular name to" is recorded from mid-16c. Term-paper in U.S. educational sense is recorded from 1931.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
term (tûrm)
n.
A limited period of time.
The end of a normal gestation period.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
term  (tûrm) Pronunciation Key
|
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary
TERM definition
1.
Latest version: 1.15.
(ftp://tartarus.uwa.edu.au/pub/oreillym/term/term115.tar.gz).
2.
(1999-10-04)
American Heritage
Abbreviations & Acronyms
term.
|
The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia
term
in the visual arts, element consisting of a sculptured figure or bust at the top of a stone pillar or column that usually tapers downward to a quadrangular base. Often the pillar replaces the body of the figure, with feet sometimes indicated at its base. The pillar itself may be a separate object (i.e., a pedestal for the head or other sculpture), in which case it is called a terminal pedestal.
Learn more about term with a free trial on Britannica.com.
Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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Example sentences
Yet over that period, long-term bond yields have fallen to historically low levels.
What is more alarming is the long-term unemployment rate.
Mid-term elections do not normally generate such histrionic imagery.
She has never had a long-term relationship with a recording label, and she has never had a press agent.
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