- term
- {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun1 word or group of wordsADJECTIVE▪ specific▪ blanket, broad, general, generic, umbrella▪ descriptive▪ common▪ basic, key▪ correct, preferred▪ precise▪ ambiguous, vague▪ mild, strong▪
His objection was couched in the strongest terms.
▪ colloquial, slang▪ derogatory, pejorative▪‘Nerd’ is a pejorative term for someone who likes computers.
▪ technical▪ search▪Try entering the search term ‘classical music’.
▪ clinical, legal, medical, musical, etc.VERB + TERM▪ use▪ be couched in▪ define, explain▪ coin, introduce, invent▪The term ‘acid rain’ was coined in the 19th century.
▪ borrow▪ prefer▪I prefer the term ‘network’ to ‘community’.
▪ apply▪I think we can apply the term ‘genius’ to the painter.
TERM + VERB▪ connote sth, denote sth, describe sth, mean sth▪ apply to sth, be applied to sth, cover sth, refer to sth▪The term ‘renewable energy’ is applied, for example, to energy deriving from solar radiation.
PREPOSITION▪ term for▪‘Old man’ is a slang term for ‘father’.
▪ term of▪a term of abuse/endearment
PHRASES▪ in glowing terms▪The chairman spoke of the achievements of the company in glowing terms.
▪ in no uncertain terms▪I let them know in no uncertain terms how disappointed I was.
▪ in simple terms▪ in the following terms2 in … terms showing what aspect of something you are consideringADJECTIVE▪ absolute, material, practical, real▪Income has increased in real terms by 5%.
▪ relative▪Iceland has had a mild winter, in relative terms.
▪ broad, general▪ clear, concrete▪The law should be set out in clear terms.
▪ abstract▪ international▪ negative▪She tends to perceive herself in purely negative terms.
▪ cultural, economic, financial, historical, money, political, scientific, social, etc.▪In money terms, the event was a disaster.
3 (usually terms) of an agreement/a relationshipADJECTIVE▪ favourable/favorable, unfavourable/unfavorable▪ express, implied (both BrE, law)▪the breach of an express term in the contract
▪ contract, credit, peaceVERB + TERM▪ dictate, negotiate, set▪Our opponents set the terms of the debate.
▪ accept, agree on, agree to▪ violate▪ extendPREPOSITION▪ under the terms of▪Under the terms of the alliance, Japan was not obliged to enter the war.
PHRASES▪ on amicable terms, on friendly terms, on good terms▪The dispute was resolved on amicable terms.
▪ on equal terms▪It is a sport in which the top men and women can compete on equal terms.
▪ on familiar terms, on first-name terms▪I'm on first-name terms with my boss.
▪ on speaking terms▪They haven't been on speaking terms since they had that big row.
▪ terms and conditions▪A wide range of accounts are available, with varying terms and conditions.
4 (esp. BrE) period of a school/university year ⇨ See also ↑semesterADJECTIVE▪ college, school, university (BrE)▪ spring, summer, etc.TERM + NOUN▪ paper (AmE)▪I was working on a term paper for a geography class.
PREPOSITION▪ during (the) term▪It's hard to get away during term.
▪ in the term▪We have exams in the summer term.
PHRASES▪ the beginning of (the) term, the end of (the) term▪It's the end of term. (BrE)
▪It's the end of the term. (AmE)
5 period of timeADJECTIVE▪ long, short▪a long term of imprisonment
▪ full (medical)▪The pregnancy went to full term (= lasted the normal length of time).
▪ fixed▪The contract was for a fixed term of five years.
▪ jail, prison▪ presidential▪ first, second▪The president wants to make tax reform a top priority during his second term.
VERB + TERM▪ serve▪He served a five-year prison term.
▪ seek▪She is now seeking her second term in the Senate.
▪ win▪Blair won a third term of office.
▪ begin, completeTERM + VERB▪ run▪Her current term runs until January 2014.
▪ expire, run out▪His term expires at the end of May.
PREPOSITION▪ at term (medical)▪Her baby was born at term.
PHRASES▪ in the long term, in the medium term, in the near term, in the short term▪In the long term, our efforts will pay off.
▪ a term of imprisonment, a term of office▪The president was sworn in for his second term of office.
▪ a term of years▪{{Roman}}II.{{/Roman}}The lease is granted for a set term of years.
verb be termedADVERB▪ aptly▪ accurately▪ broadly, loosely▪ commonly, generally, often▪ variously▪This material is variously termed ash, clinker, cinders or slag.
▪ collectively▪ euphemistically (esp. BrE)▪ hereafter (formal)▪The sampling units (hereafter termed ‘local areas’) are towns.
PREPOSITION▪ as▪His condition would be more accurately termed as ‘chronic fatigue’.
Collocations dictionary. 2013.
