term   (tûrm)    n.   A limited period of time. A period of time that is assigned to a person to serve: a six-year term as senator. See Synonyms at period. A period when a school or court is in session. A point in time at which something ends; termination: an apprenticeship nearing its term. The end of a normal gestation period: carried the fetus to term. A deadline, as for making a payment. A fixed period of time for which an estate is granted. An estate granted for a fixed period. A word or group of words having a particular meaning: had to explain the term gridlock. terms Language of a certain kind; chosen words: spoke in rather vague terms; praised him in glowing terms. One of the quantities composing a ratio or fraction or forming a series. One of the quantities connected by addition or subtraction signs in an equation; a member. A stone or post marking a boundary, especially a squared and downward-tapering pillar adorned with a head and upper torso. An architectural or decorative motif resembling such a marker. A point in time at which something ends; termination: an apprenticeship nearing its term. The end of a normal gestation period: carried the fetus to term. A deadline, as for making a payment. A fixed period of time for which an estate is granted. An estate granted for a fixed period. A word or group of words having a particular meaning: had to explain the term gridlock. terms Language of a certain kind; chosen words: spoke in rather vague terms; praised him in glowing terms. One of the quantities composing a ratio or fraction or forming a series. One of the quantities connected by addition or subtraction signs in an equation; a member. A stone or post marking a boundary, especially a squared and downward-tapering pillar adorned with a head and upper torso. An architectural or decorative motif resembling such a marker. Law A fixed period of time for which an estate is granted. An estate granted for a fixed period. A word or group of words having a particular meaning: had to explain the term gridlock. terms Language of a certain kind; chosen words: spoke in rather vague terms; praised him in glowing terms. One of the quantities composing a ratio or fraction or forming a series. One of the quantities connected by addition or subtraction signs in an equation; a member. A stone or post marking a boundary, especially a squared and downward-tapering pillar adorned with a head and upper torso. An architectural or decorative motif resembling such a marker. A word or group of words having a particular meaning: had to explain the term gridlock. terms Language of a certain kind; chosen words: spoke in rather vague terms; praised him in glowing terms. One of the quantities composing a ratio or fraction or forming a series. One of the quantities connected by addition or subtraction signs in an equation; a member. A stone or post marking a boundary, especially a squared and downward-tapering pillar adorned with a head and upper torso. An architectural or decorative motif resembling such a marker. One of the elements of a proposed or concluded agreement; a condition. Often used in the plural: offered favorable peace terms; one of the terms of the lease; the terms of a divorce settlement. terms The relationship between two people or groups; personal footing: on good terms with her in-laws. Mathematics One of the quantities composing a ratio or fraction or forming a series. One of the quantities connected by addition or subtraction signs in an equation; a member. A stone or post marking a boundary, especially a squared and downward-tapering pillar adorned with a head and upper torso. An architectural or decorative motif resembling such a marker. Logic Each of the two concepts being compared or related in a proposition. A stone or post marking a boundary, especially a squared and downward-tapering pillar adorned with a head and upper torso. An architectural or decorative motif resembling such a marker. tr.v.   termed, term·ing, terms To designate; call. [Middle English terme, from Old French, from Latin terminus, boundary. N., senses 4-8, from Middle English, from Medieval Latin terminus, from Late Latin, mathematical or logical term, from Latin, boundary, limit.]

Term

Term\, n. [F. terme, L. termen, -inis, terminus, a boundary limit, end; akin to Gr. ?, ?. See Thrum a tuft, and cf. Terminus, Determine, Exterminate.]

1. That which limits the extent of anything; limit; extremity; bound; boundary.

Corruption is a reciprocal to generation, and they two are as nature's two terms, or boundaries. --Bacon.

2. The time for which anything lasts; any limited time; as, a term of five years; the term of life.

3. In universities, schools, etc., a definite continuous period during which instruction is regularly given to students; as, the school year is divided into three terms.

4. (Geom.) A point, line, or superficies, that limits; as, a line is the term of a superficies, and a superficies is the term of a solid.

5. (Law) A fixed period of time; a prescribed duration; as: (a) The limitation of an estate; or rather, the whole time for which an estate is granted, as for the term of a life or lives, or for a term of years. (b) A space of time granted to a debtor for discharging his obligation. (c) The time in which a court is held or is open for the trial of causes. --Bouvier.

Note: In England, there were formerly four terms in the year, during which the superior courts were open: Hilary term, beginning on the 11th and ending on the 31st of January; Easter term, beginning on the 15th of April, and ending on the 8th of May; Trinity term, beginning on the 22d day of May, and ending on the 12th of June; Michaelmas term, beginning on the 2d and ending on the 25th day of November. The rest of the year was called vacation. But this division has been practically abolished by the Judicature Acts of 1873, 1875, which provide for the more convenient arrangement of the terms and vacations. In the United States, the terms to be observed by the tribunals of justice are prescribed by the statutes of Congress and of the several States.

6. (Logic) The subject or the predicate of a proposition; one of the three component parts of a syllogism, each one of which is used twice.

The subject and predicate of a proposition are, after Aristotle, together called its terms or extremes. --Sir W. Hamilton.

Note: The predicate of the conclusion is called the major term, because it is the most general, and the subject of the conclusion is called the minor term, because it is less general. These are called the extermes; and the third term, introduced as a common measure between them, is called the mean or middle term. Thus in the following syllogism, -- Every vegetable is combustible; Every tree is a vegetable; Therefore every tree is combustible, - combustible, the predicate of the conclusion, is the major term; tree is the minor term; vegetable is the middle term.

7. A word or expression; specifically, one that has a precisely limited meaning in certain relations and uses, or is peculiar to a science, art, profession, or the like; as, a technical term. "Terms quaint of law." --Chaucer.

In painting, the greatest beauties can not always be expressed for want of terms. --Dryden.

8. (Arch.) A quadrangular pillar, adorned on the top with the figure of a head, as of a man, woman, or satyr; -- called also terminal figure. See Terminus, n., 2 and 3.

Note: The pillar part frequently tapers downward, or is narrowest at the base. Terms rudely carved were formerly used for landmarks or boundaries. --Gwilt.

9. (Alg.) A member of a compound quantity; as, a or b in a + b; ab or cd in ab - cd.

10. pl. (Med.) The menses.

11. pl. (Law) Propositions or promises, as in contracts, which, when assented to or accepted by another, settle the contract and bind the parties; conditions.

12. (Law) In Scotland, the time fixed for the payment of rents.

Note: Terms legal and conventional in Scotland correspond to quarter days in England and Ireland. There are two legal terms -- Whitsunday, May 15, and Martinmas, Nov. 11; and two conventional terms -- Candlemas, Feb. 2, and Lammas day, Aug. 1. --Mozley & W.

13. (Naut.) A piece of carved work placed under each end of the taffrail. --J. Knowels.

In term, in set terms; in formal phrase. [Obs.]

I can not speak in term. --Chaucer.

Term fee (Law) (a), a fee by the term, chargeable to a suitor, or by law fixed and taxable in the costs of a cause for each or any term it is in court.

Terms of a proportion (Math.), the four members of which it is composed.

To bring to terms, to compel (one) to agree, assent, or submit; to force (one) to come to terms.

To make terms, to come to terms; to make an agreement: to agree.

Syn: Limit; bound; boundary; condition; stipulation; word; expression.

Usage: Term, Word. These are more frequently interchanged than almost any other vocables that occur of the language. There is, however, a difference between them which is worthy of being kept in mind. Word is generic; it denotes an utterance which represents or expresses our thoughts and feelings. Term originally denoted one of the two essential members of a proposition in logic, and hence signifies a word of specific meaning, and applicable to a definite class of objects. Thus, we may speak of a scientific or a technical term, and of stating things in distinct terms. Thus we say, "the term minister literally denotes servant;" "an exact definition of terms is essential to clearness of thought;" "no term of reproach can sufficiently express my indignation;" "every art has its peculiar and distinctive terms," etc. So also we say, "purity of style depends on the choice of words, and precision of style on a clear understanding of the terms used." Term is chiefly applied to verbs, nouns, and adjectives, these being capable of standing as terms in a logical proposition; while prepositions and conjunctions, which can never be so employed, are rarely spoken of as terms, but simply as words.

term  (n.)

Term

1. The lifespan assigned to an asset or a liability, over which the value of the asset/liability is expected to either grow or shrink, depending on its nature.

2. The period of time assigned as the lifespan of any investment. In the case of debt, the time it takes for all payments to be made by the borrower and received by the lender. In the case of an equity investment, the time that elapses between the acquisition of the equity and its sale or removal from holdings for another reason.

Investopedia Commentary

The life of an asset or investment generally falls into one of two main categories: short term and long term. An investment can be held for a very, very short period of time - for instance, a day trader might buy and sell a stock within seconds. On the other hand, the life of an investment can be as long as the life of a piece of land, which can span several generations and pass through the hands of many investors.

Related Links

Financial Concepts
Short-, Intermediate- and Long-Term Trends

See also: Asset, Liability, Long Term, Medium Term, Short Term, Term Out

term

1. The period during which a bond will remain outstanding.
2. The length of time that a person is to serve in a usually official capacity. For example, a firm's directors may be elected for terms of three years each.

Main Entry: term
Function: noun
often attrib 1 : a specified period of time term>
2 : the whole period for which an estate is granted; also : the estate itself
3 a : the period in which the powers of a court may be validly exercised b : SESSION
4 : a word, phrase, or provision of import esp. in determining the nature and scope of an agreement —usually used in pl. terms of the contract>

Main Entry: ¹term
Pronunciation: 't&rm
Function: noun
: the time at which a pregnancy of normal length terminates term>

term (tûrm)
n.

1. A limited period of time.
2. The end of a normal gestation period.

term   (tûrm)  Pronunciation Key  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
1. A program by Michael O'Reilly for people running Unix who have Internet access via a dial-up connection, and who don't have access to SLIP, or PPP, or simply prefer a more lightweight protocol. TERM does end-to-end error-correction, compression and mulplexing across serial links. This means you can upload and download files as the same time you're reading your news, and can run X clients on the other side of your modem link, all without needing SLIP or PPP.
Latest version: 1.15.
(ftp://tartarus.uwa.edu.au/pub/oreillym/term/term115.tar.gz).
2. Technology Enabled Relationship Management.
(1999-10-04)

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.

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