- Main Entry:
- 1term
- Pronunciation:
-
\ˈtərm\
- Function:
- noun
- Etymology:
- Middle English terme, from Anglo-French, from Latin terminus boundary marker, limit; akin to Greek termōn 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 session3plural : provisions that determine the nature and scope of an agreement : conditions <terms of sale> <liberal credit terms>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 terms> bplural : expression of a specified kind <described in glowing terms>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 sequence6plural a: mutual relationship : footing <on good terms> b: agreement, concord <come to terms after extensive negotiations> c: a state of acceptance or understanding <came to terms with the failure of his marriage>7: any of the three substantive elements of a syllogism8: a quadrangular pillar often tapering downward and adorned on the top with the figure of a head or the upper part of the body9: division in a school year during which instruction is regularly given to students
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in terms of : with respect to or in relation to <thinks of everything in terms of money>
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on one's own terms : in accordance with one's wishes : in one's own way <prefers to live on his own terms>
