Hyper Dictionary

English Dictionary Computer Dictionary Thesaurus Dream Dictionary Medical Dictionary


Search Dictionary:  

Meaning of TERM

Pronunciation:  turm

WordNet Dictionary
 
 Definition: 
  1. [n]  any distinct quantity contained in a polynomial; "the general term of an algebraic equation of the n-th degree"
  2. [n]  (usually plural) a statement of what is required as part of an agreement; "the contract set out the conditions of the lease"; "the terms of the treaty were generous"
  3. [n]  a word or expression used for some particular thing; "he learned many medical terms"
  4. [n]  one of the substantive phrases in a logical proposition; "the major term of a syllogism must occur twice"
  5. [n]  a limited period of time; "a prison term"; "he left school before the end of term"
  6. [n]  the end of gestation or point at which birth is imminent; "a healthy baby born at full term"
  7. [v]  name formally or designate with a term
 
 Websites: 
 
 Synonyms: condition, full term
 
 See Also: academic session, academic term, agreement, call, constituent, gestation, gestation period, grammatical constituent, incumbency, major term, middle term, midterm, minor term, name, period, period of time, point, point in time, predicate, prison term, proposition, quantity, referent, relatum, school term, sentence, session, statement, subject, tenure, term of office, time, time period, understanding, word

 

 

Webster's 1913 Dictionary
 
 Definition: 
  1. \Term\, n. [F. terme, L. termen, -inis, terminus, a
    boundary limit, end; akin to Gr. ?, ?. See {Thrum} a tuft,
    and cf. {Terminus}, {Determine}, {Exterminate}.]
    1. That which limits the extent of anything; limit;
       extremity; bound; boundary.
             Corruption is a reciprocal to generation, and they
             two are as nature's two terms, or boundaries.
                                                   --Bacon.
    2. The time for which anything lasts; any limited time; as, a
       term of five years; the term of life.
    3. In universities, schools, etc., a definite continuous
       period during which instruction is regularly given to
       students; as, the school year is divided into three terms.
    4. (Geom.) A point, line, or superficies, that limits; as, a
       line is the term of a superficies, and a superficies is
       the term of a solid.
    5. (Law) A fixed period of time; a prescribed duration; as:
       (a) The limitation of an estate; or rather, the whole time
           for which an estate is granted, as for the term of a
           life or lives, or for a term of years.
       (b) A space of time granted to a debtor for discharging
           his obligation.
       (c) The time in which a court is held or is open for the
           trial of causes. --Bouvier.
    Note: In England, there were formerly four terms in the year,
          during which the superior courts were open: Hilary
          term, beginning on the 11th and ending on the 31st of
          January; Easter term, beginning on the 15th of April,
          and ending on the 8th of May; Trinity term, beginning
          on the 22d day of May, and ending on the 12th of June;
          Michaelmas term, beginning on the 2d and ending on the
          25th day of November. The rest of the year was called
          vacation. But this division has been practically
          abolished by the Judicature Acts of 1873, 1875, which
          provide for the more convenient arrangement of the
          terms and vacations. In the United States, the terms to
          be observed by the tribunals of justice are prescribed
          by the statutes of Congress and of the several States.
    6. (Logic) The subject or the predicate of a proposition; one
       of the three component parts of a syllogism, each one of
       which is used twice.
             The subject and predicate of a proposition are,
             after Aristotle, together called its terms or
             extremes.                             --Sir W.
                                                   Hamilton.
    Note: The predicate of the conclusion is called the major
          term, because it is the most general, and the subject
          of the conclusion is called the minor term, because it
          is less general. These are called the extermes; and the
          third term, introduced as a common measure between
          them, is called the mean or middle term. Thus in the
          following syllogism, -- Every vegetable is combustible;
          Every tree is a vegetable; Therefore every tree is
          combustible, - combustible, the predicate of the
          conclusion, is the major term; tree is the minor term;
          vegetable is the middle term.
    7. A word or expression; specifically, one that has a
       precisely limited meaning in certain relations and uses,
       or is peculiar to a science, art, profession, or the like;
       as, a technical term. ``Terms quaint of law.'' --Chaucer.
             In painting, the greatest beauties can not always be
             expressed for want of terms.          --Dryden.
    8. (Arch.) A quadrangular pillar, adorned on the top with the
       figure of a head, as of a man, woman, or satyr; -- called
       also {terminal figure}. See {Terminus}, n., 2 and 3.
    Note: The pillar part frequently tapers downward, or is
          narrowest at the base. Terms rudely carved were
          formerly used for landmarks or boundaries. --Gwilt.
    9. (Alg.) A member of a compound quantity; as, a or b in a +
       b; ab or cd in ab - cd.
    10. pl. (Med.) The menses.
    11. pl. (Law) Propositions or promises, as in contracts,
        which, when assented to or accepted by another, settle
        the contract and bind the parties; conditions.
    12. (Law) In Scotland, the time fixed for the payment of
        rents.
    Note: Terms legal and conventional in Scotland correspond to
          quarter days in England and Ireland. There are two
          legal terms -- Whitsunday, May 15, and Martinmas, Nov.
          11; and two conventional terms -- Candlemas, Feb. 2,
          and Lammas day, Aug. 1. --Mozley & W.
    13. (Naut.) A piece of carved work placed under each end of
        the taffrail. --J. Knowels.
    {In term}, in set terms; in formal phrase. [Obs.]
             I can not speak in term.              --Chaucer.
    {Term fee} (Law)
        (a), a fee by the term, chargeable to a suitor, or by law
            fixed and taxable in the costs of a cause for each or
            any term it is in court.
    {Terms of a proportion} (Math.), the four members of which it
       is composed.
    {To bring to terms}, to compel (one) to agree, assent, or
       submit; to force (one) to come to terms.
    {To make terms}, to come to terms; to make an agreement: to
       agree.
    Syn: Limit; bound; boundary; condition; stipulation; word;
         expression.
    Usage: {Term}, {Word}. These are more frequently interchanged
           than almost any other vocables that occur of the
           language. There is, however, a difference between them
           which is worthy of being kept in mind. Word is
           generic; it denotes an utterance which represents or
           expresses our thoughts and feelings. Term originally
           denoted one of the two essential members of a
           proposition in logic, and hence signifies a word of
           specific meaning, and applicable to a definite class
           of objects. Thus, we may speak of a scientific or a
           technical term, and of stating things in distinct
           terms. Thus we say, ``the term minister literally
           denotes servant;'' ``an exact definition of terms is
           essential to clearness of thought;'' ``no term of
           reproach can sufficiently express my indignation;''
           ``every art has its peculiar and distinctive terms,''
           etc. So also we say, ``purity of style depends on the
           choice of words, and precision of style on a clear
           understanding of the terms used.'' Term is chiefly
           applied to verbs, nouns, and adjectives, these being
           capable of standing as terms in a logical proposition;
           while prepositions and conjunctions, which can never
           be so employed, are rarely spoken of as terms, but
           simply as words.
    
  2. \Term\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Termed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
    {Terming}.] [See {Term}, n., and cf. {Terminate}.]
    To apply a term to; to name; to call; to denominate.
          Men term what is beyond the limits of the universe
          ``imaginary space.''                     --Locke.
    
 
 Websites: 
 
Computing Dictionary
 
 Definition: 

1. A program by Michael O'Reilly <[email protected]> for people running Unix who have Internet access via a dial-up connection, and who don't have access to SLIP, or PPP, or simply prefer a more lightweight protocol. TERM does end-to-end error-correction, compression and mulplexing across serial links. This means you can upload and download files as the same time you're reading your news, and can run X clients on the other side of your modem link, all without needing SLIP or PPP.

Current version: 1.15.

2. Technology Enabled Relationship Management.

 
 Websites: 
 
Medical Dictionary
 
 Definition: Definition
 
 Websites: 
 

 

COPYRIGHT © 2000-2003 WEBNOX CORP. HOME | ABOUT HYPERDICTIONARY