term

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
term/tɜːm/

▶noun

• 1 a word or phrase used to describe a thing or to express a concept.

  ■ (terms) a way of expressing oneself: a protest in the strongest terms.

  ■ Logic a word or words that may be the subject or predicate of a proposition.

• 2 a fixed or limited period for which something lasts or is intended to last.

  ■ (also term day) (especially in Scotland) a fixed day of the year appointed for the making of payments, the start of tenancies, etc.

  ■ (also full term) the completion of a normal length of pregnancy.

  ■ (Brit. also term of years or US term for years) Law a tenancy of a fixed period.

  ■ archaic a limit, especially of time.

• 3 each of the periods in the year during which instruction is given in a school, college, etc., or during which a law court holds sessions.

• 4 (terms) stipulated or agreed requirements.

  ■ conditions with regard to payment.

  ■ agreed conditions under which a dispute is settled.

• 5 Mathematics each of the quantities in a ratio, series, or mathematical expression.

• 6 Architecture a terminus.

▶verb call by a specified term.

– phrases
come to terms with reconcile oneself to.
in terms of (or in —— terms) with regard to the aspect or subject specified.
the long/short/medium term a period that is a specified way into the future.
on terms in a state of friendship or equality.

■ (in sport) level in score.

on —— terms on a specified footing.
terms of reference Brit. the scope of an inquiry or discussion.

– derivatives
termly adjective & adverb (Brit.).

– origin ME: from OFr. terme, from L. terminus ‘end, boundary, limit’.