term: Meaning and Definition of

term

Pronunciation: (tûrm), [key]
— n.
  1. a word or group of words designating something, esp. in a particular field, as atom in physics, quietism in theology, adze in carpentry, or district leader in politics.
  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. reasonable terms.
    1. conditions with regard to payment, price, charge, rates, wages, etc.:reasonable terms.
    2. conditions or stipulations limiting what is proposed to be granted or done:the terms of a treaty.
    3. footing or standing; relations:on good terms with someone.
    4. Obs.state, situation, or circumstances.
    1. 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.
    2. a mathematical expression of the form axp, axpyq, etc., where a, p, and q are numbers and x and y are variables.
    1. the subject or predicate of a categorical proposition.
    2. the word or expression denoting the subject or predicate of a categorical proposition.
  8. Also calleda figure, esp. of Terminus, in the form of a herm, used by the ancient Romans as a boundary marker; terminal figure.
    1. an estate or interest in land or the like, to be enjoyed for a fixed period.
    2. the duration of an estate.
    3. each of the periods during which certain courts of law hold their sessions.
  9. completion of pregnancy; parturition.
    1. end, conclusion, or termination.
    2. boundary or limit.
  10. to force to agree to stated demands or conditions; bring into submission: After a long struggle, we brought them to terms.
  11. to come to terms with a creditor.
    1. to reach an agreement; make an arrangement:to come to terms with a creditor.
    2. to become resigned or accustomed:to come to terms with one's life.
  12. to study for the bar; be a law student.
  13. with regard to; concerning: The book offers nothing in terms of a satisfactory conclusion.
—v.t.
  1. to apply a particular term or name to; name; call; designate.

term.

Pronunciation: [key]
  1. terminal.
  2. termination.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also: