Term
The word
term refers to either a
word unit or a
time unit with specified boundaries or limits.
In the context of a
legal and binding
contract,
terms refers to all specified boundaries, limits, and conditions that are stated in the contract —including any names, places, times, and definitions.
;Language unit
* In
terminology (the study of language terms), a "term" is a
word, word pair, or word group, that is used in specific contexts for a specific meaning.
** Specialised terms are characterised as
technical terms, or sometimes
terms of art.
** Figures of speech and shorthands are called
terms of language.
** A
term (mathematics) is a basic component of a
mathematical expression. In the context of a
polynomial it is a number and
variables all multiplied together. Similarly, like terms are terms that have the same variables to the same exponents.
** in
mathematical logic, a
term is a particular combination of symbols from a formal language, that in turn are the units that make up the formulas of that language.
** In
type theory, "
term" is used for the
linguistic constructs.
** In traditional
logic,
term came to mean a referring expression, but only through the
Latin terminus -
margin, (so that terms were 'terminal for analysis').
;Unit of time
* A unit of
time - where a
"term" is a specified and measured period or unit of time after which such term is said to be 'ended' or 'expired.' For example:
** the
term of office a person (e.g. a politician) serves in office;
** the
term served in
prison by a convicted
criminal;
** a
deadline - in
project management** an
academic term – a number of weeks worth of study at a
school or
university** the
term of a
mortgage;
** "long-
term" and "short-
term";
** the
term of patent, the period during which it is enforceable -
e.g. term of patent in the United States.
;Conditions
* In
contracts, the
terms are the details of an
agreement, often the amounts of
money.
;
Astrology* The
terms of a planet refers to segments of an
astrological sign that are co-ruled by different
planets. It is a form of
essential dignity. It can also be called the
bounds of a planet or sign.
