n.
Pronunciation: ' t ə rm
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English terme, from Anglo-French, from Latin terminus boundary marker, limit; akin to Greek term ō n boundary, end, Sanskrit tarman top of a post
Date: 13th century
1 a : END , TERMINATION also : a point in time assigned to something (as a payment) b : the time at which a pregnancy of normal length terminates <had her baby at full term >
2 a : a limited or definite extent of time especially : the time for which something lasts : DURATION , TENURE < term of office> <lost money in the short term > b : the whole period for which an estate is granted also : the estate or interest held by one for a term c : the time during which a court is in session
3 plural : provisions that determine the nature and scope of an agreement : CONDITIONS < term s of sale> <liberal credit term s >
4 a : a word or expression that has a precise meaning in some uses or is peculiar to a science, art, profession, or subject <legal term s > b plural : expression of a specified kind <described in glowing term s >
5 a : a unitary or compound expression connected with another by a plus or minus sign b : an element of a fraction or proportion or of a series or sequence
6 plural a : mutual relationship : FOOTING <on good term s > b : AGREEMENT , CONCORD <come to term s after extensive negotiations> c : a state of acceptance or understanding <came to term s with the failure of his marriage>
7 : any of the three substantive elements of a syllogism
8 : a quadrangular pillar often tapering downward and adorned on the top with the figure of a head or the upper part of the body
9 : division in a school year during which instruction is regularly given to students
– in terms of : with respect to or in relation to <thinks of everything in terms of money>
– on one's own terms : in accordance with one's wishes : in one's own way <prefers to live on his own terms >