term Hear it!

term1 definition

term (tʉrm)

noun

  1. Archaic a point of time designating the beginning or end of a period
  2. a set date, as for payment, termination of tenancy, etc.
  3. a set period of time; duration; specif.,
    1. a division of a school year, as a semester or quarter, during which a course of studies is given
    2. ☆ the stipulated duration of an appointment to a particular office elected to a four-year term
    3. the normal elapsed period for birth after conception; also, delivery at the end of this period; parturition
  4. conditions of a contract, agreement, sale, etc.
  5. mutual relationship between or among persons; footing on speaking terms
  6. a word or phrase having a limiting and definite meaning in some science, art, etc. “tergum” is a zoological term
  7. any word or phrase used in a definite or precise sense; expression a colloquial term
  8. words that express ideas in a specified way to speak in derogatory terms
    1. Now Rare a limit; boundary; extremity
    2. Obsolete conditions; circumstances
  10. Archit. a boundary post, esp. one consisting of a pedestal topped by a bust, as of the god Terminus
  11. Law
    1. the time a court is in session
    2. the length of time for which an estate is granted
    3. the estate itself
    4. time allowed a debtor to pay
  12. Logic
    1. either of two concepts that have a stated relation, as the subject and predicate of a proposition
    2. any of the three elements which function variously as subjects and predicates in a syllogism
  13. Math.
    1. either of the two quantities of a fraction or a ratio
    2. each of the quantities in a series or sequence
    3. each of the quantities connected by plus or minus signs in an algebraic expression

Etymology: ME terme < OFr < L terminus, a limit, boundary, end < IE *termṇ, a boundary stake < base *ter-, to cross over, go beyond > trans-, Gr terma, goal

transitive verb

to call by a term; name
term Idioms

bring to terms

to reduce to submission; force to agree

come to terms

to arrive at an agreement or accommodation

in terms of

  1. by means of
  2. with reference to
term2 definition

term

  1. terminal
  2. termination

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

business term definition - business

medical term definition - medical

term Synonyms

term

n.

  1. A name

    expression, terminology, phrase, word, locution, indication, denomination, article, appellation, designation, title, head, caption, nomenclature, moniker*; see also name 1.

  2. A period of time

    span, interval, course, cycle, season, duration, phase, official period of tenure, quarter, course of time, semester, school period, session, period of confinement; see also time 2.

bring to terms

coerce, pressure, reduce to submission; see force 1.

come to terms

compromise, arrive at an agreement, arbitrate; see agree.

in terms of

in reference to, about, concerning; see regarding.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

term Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • agree: PSNC has agreed the terms of its articles of association ahead of the organization becoming a limited company.

Converse of subject

  • bind: If you order software from us you will also be bound by the terms of the software license supplied with the software.

Adjective modifier

  • long: Are the customer's problems short term or long term?

Modifies a noun

  • contract: There are term contract arrangements in place for these various requirements.

Noun used with modifier

  • autumn: Implementation The project ran for three weeks at the end of the autumn term in 2005.

Preposition: of

  • reference: Terms of Reference: To deal with any matter which will not admit of delay.
term usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

term quotes

When I was a lad I served a term As office boy to an attorney's firm. I cleaned the windows and I swept the floor, And I polished up the handle of the big front door. I polished up that handle so carefullee That now I am the Ruler of the Queen's Navee!

-Gilbert, Sir W(illiam) S(chwenck)

To every nation a term; whentheir term comesthey shall not put it back by a single hour nor put it forward.

-The Koran

I remember summing up what I took to be ourdestiny, in conversation with my best friend at Chartres, by the formula,'Term, holidays, term, holidays, till we leave school, and then work, work, work till we die.'

-Lewis, C(live) S(taples)

term quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Link to this page:

Cite this page:

MLA Style

"term." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 3 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/term>

APA Style

term. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 3rd, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/term

Comments:

Please or Register to post a comment