- term
- I UK [tɜː(r)m] / US [tɜrm]
noun
Word forms "term":
singular term plural terms
***
1)a) [countable] a word or phrase used for referring to somethinga technical/medical/legal/scientific term
In simple terms, you need more exercise.
coin a term (= create a new term):The president condemns terrorism in the strongest possible terms.
Darwin originally coined the term "natural selection".
b) [countable, often plural] a word or phrase used as a name or for describing someonea term of endearment:All his teachers speak of him in glowing terms.
We called our daughter "Princess" as a term of endearment.
2) terms[plural] used for saying which aspects of something you are considering or includingIn practical terms, this change is unlikely to affect many people.
in terms of:in political/economic/artistic terms
The savings, both in terms of time and money, could be considerable.
3)a) [countable] one of the periods of time into which the year is divided for students. In the UK, there are usually three terms: the autumn term, the spring term, and the summer termthe end of term:What classes are you taking this term?
term time:How many weeks is it till the end of term?
He trains five times a week during term time.
b) [countable, usually singular] a period of time during which a government, court, or other official organization regularly meetsThe Supreme Court's term always begins in October.
4) [countable] a period of time during which a politician or other official holds their jobterm of/in office:In 1988 he was re-elected for a five-year term.
Her term of office ends in September.
5) [countable] the period of time that someone must spend in prisonprison/jail term:She's serving a 15-year term.
He received a prison term of six months.
6) [countable] a period of time that a legal, business, or financial agreement lastsfixed term:Finance costs are collected over the term of the loan.
I was employed on a fixed-term contract of two years.
7)a) [uncountable] medical the end of the period of time that a woman is pregnantShe worried that she could not carry a child to term.
a full-term baby/pregnancy
b) formal the end of the period of time that something lasts, especially a legal, business, or financial agreement8) [countable] maths a number or symbol used in a calculation in mathematics9)a) terms[plural] the conditions of a legal, business, or financial agreement that the people making it acceptterm of:He had little choice but to accept their terms.
under the terms of something:We have agreed the terms of the lease.
terms and conditions:The committee was set up under the terms of a voluntary agreement.
negotiate terms:Do you agree to these terms and conditions?
He negotiated the terms for their release from prison.
b) the conditions you accept when you buy or sell somethingon easy terms (= paying small amounts over a long time):His terms are very reasonable.
The bank makes loans on easy terms.
•come to terms (with someone)
— to make an agreement, or to end an argument with someoneThey had somehow to come to terms.
compete on equal terms:on equal/the same terms
— in a situation in which two people or groups have the same advantages or disadvantagesAthletes need to know they are competing on equal terms.
be on good/bad/friendly etc terms
— to have a good, bad, or friendly relationship with someoneHe's still on friendly terms with his first wife.
I'm on friendly terms with my ex-wife.
They are on first-name terms (= they call each other by their first names).
on your (own) terms
— according to your conditionsShe wanted the relationship to be all on her terms.
See:
II UK [tɜː(r)m] / US [tɜrm] verb [transitive, often passive]
Word forms "term":
present tense I/you/we/they term he/she/it terms present participle terming past tense termed past participle termedto use a particular word or phrase to describe or refer to someone or somethingOne critic termed him "the finest essayist in the United States".
Some of our victories this season could be termed lucky.
English dictionary. 2014.
