term
pronunciation
How to pronounce term in British English:
UK [tɜːm]
How to pronounce term in American English:
US [tɜːrm]
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- Noun:
- a word or expression used for some particular thing
- a limited period of time
- (usually plural) a statement of what is required as part of an agreement
- any distinct quantity contained in a polynomial
- one of the substantive phrases in a logical proposition
- the end of gestation or point at which birth is imminent
- (architecture) a statue or a human bust or an animal carved out of the top of a square pillar; originally used as a boundary marker in ancient Rome
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- Verb:
- name formally or designate with a term
Word Origin
- term
- term: [13] The etymological notion underlying the word term is of a ‘limit’ or ‘boundary’, and hence of an ‘end’. It comes via Old French terme from Latin terminus ‘boundary, limit’, which was also borrowed into Welsh as terfyn ‘boundary’ and directly into English in the 17th century as terminus ‘finishing point’ (it was first applied to railway stations in the 1830s).The notion of a ‘time limit’ led to its use for a ‘period of time’, the sense in which it was first used in English; the particular application to a ‘period in which a school, law court, etc is in session’ emerged in the mid 15th century. The sense ‘word or phrase expressing a particular idea’ arose (through Greek influence) in medieval Latin from the concept of ‘limiting’ the application of an expression.Also from Latin terminus come English determine, exterminate [16], terminal [15], terminate [16], and terminology [19].=> determine, exterminate, terminology, terminus
- term (n.)
- c. 1200, terme "limit in time, set or appointed period," from Old French terme "limit of time or place, date, appointed time, duration" (11c.), from Latin terminus "end, boundary line," in Medieval Latin "expression, definition," related to termen "boundary, end" (see terminus). Old English had termen "term, end," from Latin. Sense of "period of time during which something happens" first recorded c. 1300, especially of a school or law court session (mid-15c.). The meaning "word or phrase used in a limited or precise sense" is first recorded late 14c., from Medieval Latin use of terminus to render Greek horos "boundary," employed in mathematics and logic. Hence in terms of "in the language or phraseology peculiar to." Meaning "completion of the period of pregnancy" is from 1844. Term-paper in U.S. educational sense is recorded from 1931.
- term (v.)
- "to give a particular name to," 1550s, from term (n.). Related: Termed; terming.
Example
- 1. But the citation does not use the term .
- 2. Does being friends with this person re-define the term ?
- 3. En primeur is the french term for wine before it is bottled .
- 4. Mr trichet 's term ends in october .
- 5. A fresh election is expected next term .