term

term1 [ tɜrm ] noun ***

▸ 1 word/phrase for someone/something

▸ 2 for considering aspects

▸ 3 period of time

▸ 4 end of period something lasts

▸ 5 in mathematics

▸ 6 conditions of agreement

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) count a word or phrase used for referring to something:

a technical/medical/legal/scientific term

In simple terms, you need more exercise.

The president condemns terrorism in the strongest possible terms.

coin a term (=create a new term): Darwin originally coined the term natural selection.

a ) count often plural a word or phrase used as a name or for describing someone:

All his teachers speak of him in glowing terms.

a term of endearment: We called our daughter Princess as a term of endearment.

2. ) terms plural used for saying which aspects of something you are considering or including:

In practical terms, this change is unlikely to affect many people.

in political/economic/artistic terms

in terms of: The savings, both in terms of time and money, could be considerable.

3. ) count a period of time during which a politician or other official holds their job:

In 1988 he was reelected for a five-year term.

term of/in office: Her term of office ends in September.

a ) count usually singular a period of time during which a government, court, or other official organization regularly meets:

The Supreme Court's term always begins in October.

b ) count one of the periods of time the year is divided into for students. In the U.S. a term can be, for example, a year, a semester, or a trimester:

What classes are you taking this term?

You will be required to take an exam at the end of the term.

c ) count the period of time that someone must spend in prison:

She's serving a 15-year term.

prison/jail term: He received a prison term of six months.

d ) count a period of time that a legal, business, or financial agreement lasts:

Finance costs are collected over the term of the loan.

fixed term: I was employed on a fixed-term contract of two years.

e ) term limit AMERICAN the legal limit to the number of terms someone can be elected to a particular office

4. ) uncount MEDICAL the end of the period of time that a woman is pregnant:

She worried that she could not carry a child to term.

a full-term baby/pregnancy

a ) FORMAL the end of the period of time that something lasts, especially a legal, business, or financial agreement

5. ) count TECHNICAL a number or symbol used in a calculation in mathematics

6. ) terms plural the conditions of a legal, business, or financial agreement that the people making it accept:

He had little choice but to accept their terms.

term of: We have agreed the terms of the lease.

under the terms of something: Under the terms of the 1947 Constitution, legislative authority is vested in the Assembly.

terms and conditions: Do you agree to these terms and conditions?

negotiate terms: He negotiated the terms for their release from prison.

a ) the conditions you accept when you buy or sell something:

His terms are very reasonable.

on easy terms (=paying small amounts over a long time): The bank makes loans on easy terms.

b ) on your (own) terms according to your conditions

come to terms (with someone)

to make an agreement or end an argument with someone:

They had to somehow come to terms.

come to terms with something

to learn to accept and deal with an unpleasant situation or event, especially after being upset or angry about it for a long time:

She needed time to come to terms with her grief.

in the long/middle/short term

after a long, middle-length, or short period of time:

Economic success requires sacrifices in the short term.

in someone's terms

according to someone's way of considering or understanding a situation:

They had, in their terms, been reduced to poverty.

on equal/the same terms

in a situation in which two people or groups have the same advantages or disadvantages:

compete on equal terms: Athletes need to know they are competing on equal terms.

on good/bad/friendly etc. terms

to have a good, bad, or friendly relationship with someone:

We ended the meeting on good terms.

I'm on friendly terms with my ex-wife.

on speaking terms often in negatives

feeling friendly toward someone, not angry with them:

He isn't on speaking terms with half of the family.

=> REAL1 7A, TERMS OF REFERENCE

term

term 2 [ tɜrm ] verb transitive often passive

to use a particular word or phrase to describe or refer to someone or something:

One critic termed him the finest essayist in the United States.

Some of our victories this season could be termed lucky.