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1. Dictionary

   term

   /təːm/

   noun

   • 1. a word or phrase used to describe a thing or to express a concept, especially in a particular kind of language or branch of study: "the musical term ‘leitmotiv’" Similar wordexpressionphraseturn of phraseidiomlocutionnametitledenominationdesignationlabelformal:appellation
   • ▪ language used on a particular occasion; a way of expressing oneself: "a protest in the strongest possible terms" Similar languagemode of expressionmanner of speakingphraseologyterminologywordsphrasesexpressions
   • ▪ a word or words that may be the subject or predicate of a proposition.
   • 2. a fixed or limited period for which something, for example office, imprisonment, or investment, lasts or is intended to last: "the President is elected for a single four-year term" Similar periodperiod of timetimelength of timespellstintdurationintervalstretchrunphaseterm of officeperiod of officeincumbencyadministration
   • ▪ (especially in Scotland) a fixed day of the year appointed for the making of payments, the start or end of tenancies, etc.
   • ▪ the completion of a normal length of pregnancy: "I was really keen to go to term and to have a home birth"
   • ▪ a tenancy of a fixed period.
   • ▪ the duration of a person's life. archaic
   • ▪ a boundary or limit, especially of time. archaic
   • 3. each of the periods in the year, alternating with holiday or vacation, during which instruction is given in a school, college, or university, or during which a law court holds sessions: "the summer term" Similar sessionsemestertrimesterquarter
   • 4. conditions under which an action may be undertaken or agreement reached; stipulated or agreed requirements: "their solicitors had agreed terms"
   • ▪ conditions with regard to payment for something; stated charges: "loans on favourable terms" Similar conditionsstipulationsspecificationsprovisionsprovisosrestrictionsqualificationsparticularsdetailspointsclausesarticlesratespriceschargescostsfeestariff
   • ▪ agreed conditions under which a war or other dispute is brought to an end: "the United States played a key role in prodding the two sides to come to terms"
   • 5. each of the quantities in a ratio, series, or mathematical expression.
   • 6. another term for terminus

   verb

   • 1. give a descriptive name to; call by a specified term: "he has been termed the father of modern theology"

   Word Origin Middle English (denoting a limit in space or time, or (in the plural) limiting conditions): from Old French terme, from Latin terminus ‘end, boundary, limit’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. termless adjective

   Scrabble Points: 6

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

   • R

     1

   • M

     3

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