term / tərm/ • n. 1. a word or phrase used to describe a thing or to express a concept, esp. in a particular kind of language or branch of study: the musical term “leitmotiv” | a term of abuse. ∎  (terms) language used on a particular occasion; a way of expressing oneself: a protest in the strongest possible 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, e.g., office, imprisonment, or investment, lasts or is intended to last: the president is elected for a single four-year term. ∎ archaic the duration of a person's life. ∎  (also full term) the completion of a normal length of pregnancy: the pregnancy went to full term low birthweight at term. ∎  Law a tenancy of a fixed period. ∎ archaic a boundary or limit, esp. of time. 3. each of the periods in the year, alternating with holidays or vacations, during which instruction is given in a school, college, or university, or during which a court holds sessions: the summer term term starts tomorrow. 4. (terms) conditions under which an action may be undertaken or agreement reached; stipulated or agreed-upon requirements: the union and the company agreed upon the contract's terms | he could only be dealt with on his own terms. ∎  conditions with regard to payment for something; stated charges: loans on favorable terms. ∎  agreed conditions under which a war or other dispute is brought to an end: a deal in Bosnia that could force the Serbs to come to terms. 5. Math. each of the quantities in a ratio, series, or mathematical expression. 6. Archit. another term for terminus. • v. [tr.] give a descriptive name to; call by a specified name: he has been termed the father of modern theology. PHRASES: come to terms with come to accept (a new and painful or difficult event or situation); reconcile oneself to: she had come to terms with the tragedies in her life. in terms of (or in —— terms) with regard to the particular aspect or subject specified: replacing the printers is difficult to justify in terms of cost | sales are down by nearly 7 percent in real terms. the long/short/medium term used to refer to a time that is a specified way into the future. on —— terms in a specified relation or on a specified footing: we are all on friendly terms.

term An expression formed from symbols for functions, constants, and variables. An example is f(a,g(h(b),c,d))

Terms are defined recursively as follows: a term is either a variable symbol, a constant symbol, or else has the form φ(τ₁,…,τ_k), where φ is a function symbol and each of τ₁,…,τ_k is itself a term. The example above thus has the overall form f(τ₁,τ₂): in this case φ = f and k = 2. Another constraint is that different occurrences of the same symbol φ cannot occur with different values of k, i.e. each φ must have a fixed arity (number of arguments). Thus f(a,f(h(b),c,d))

would not be a term since the first f has arity 2 while the second has arity 3; neither would f(a,g(h(b),c,h)),

since the first h has arity 1 while the second has arity 0.

Terms are often built using signatures. A Σ-term is a term in which each constant and function symbol used is in a signature Σ, and has the arity associated with it by Σ and, if Σ is a many-sorted signature, all the sorts match properly. A Σ-term is also called a term over signature Σ. Often a Σ-term is allowed to contain variables (of arity 0) in addition to symbols in Σ. Terms containing variables are called open terms; terms containing only symbols of the signature are called closed or ground terms. Terms can also be viewed as trees (see tree language). Terms (whether as expressions or as trees) are important in the construction of virtually all syntactic concepts. Terms as defined here are sometimes called first-order terms, to distinguish them from the higher-order terms (such as those involved in lambda calculus). See also predicate calculus, initial algebra, equation.

TERM

An expression, word, or phrase that has a fixed and known meaning in a particular art, science, or profession. A specified period of time.

The term of a court is the legally prescribed period for which it may be in session. Although the session of the court is the time that it actually sits, the words term and session are frequently used interchangeably.

In reference to a lease, a term is the period granted during which the lessee is entitled to occupy the rented premises. It does not include the period of time between the creation of the lease and the entry of the tenant. Similarly when used in reference to estates, the term is the period of time for which an estate is granted. An estate for five years, for example, is one with a five-year term.

A term of office is the time during which an official who has been appointed or elected may hold the office, perform its functions, and partake of its emoluments and privileges.

term limit in time, period XIII; (pl.) limiting conditions XIV; form in which a matter or subject is expressed, expression. — (O)F. terme :- L. terminus limit, boundary.
So terminal pert. to a boundary XV; situated at or forming the end XIX; sb. terminal element XIX. — L.; see -AL1. terminate †determine XVI; bring to an end XVI. f. pp. stem of L. termināre; see -ATE3. termination †determination; end XV; (gram.) ending XVI. — (O)F. or L. terminology system of terms. XIX. — G. terminologie. terminus pl. -i finishing point XVII; end of a line of railway XIX. — L.

term. See herm.

term •affirm, berm, confirm, firm, germ, herm, midterm, perm, sperm, squirm, term, therm, worm •pachyderm • echinoderm •wheatgerm • endosperm •gymnosperm • isogeotherm •ragworm • flatworm • threadworm •tapeworm •eelworm, mealworm •silkworm • ringworm • inchworm •blindworm • lobworm • roundworm •slow-worm • screw worm •woodworm •bookworm, hookworm •bloodworm • lugworm • lungworm •earthworm