term (terms plural & 3rd person present) (terming present participle) (termed past tense & past participle )
1 If you talk about something in terms of something or in particular terms, you are specifying which aspect of it you are discussing or from what point of view you are considering it.
in terms of phrase PHR after v, PHR with cl
Our goods compete in terms of product quality, reliability and above all variety..., Paris has played a dominant role in France, not just in political terms but also in economic power.
2 If you say something in particular terms, you say it using a particular type or level of language or using language which clearly shows your attitude.
in particular terms phrase usu PHR after v, PHR with cl
The video explains in simple terms how the new tax works...
3 n-count A term is a word or expression with a specific meaning, especially one which is used in relation to a particular subject.
usu with supp
Myocardial infarction is the medical term for a heart attack.
4 verb If you say that something is termed a particular thing, you mean that that is what people call it or that is their opinion of it.
He had been termed a temporary employee... be V-ed n
He termed the war a humanitarian nightmare. V n n
5 n-var A term is one of the periods of time that a school, college, or university divides the year into.
...the summer term., ...the last day of term.
6 n-count A term is a period of time between two elections during which a particular party or government is in power.
with supp
Felipe Gonzalez won a fourth term of office in Spain's election.
7 n-count A term is a period of time that someone spends doing a particular job or in a particular place.
with supp
...a 12 month term of service..., Offenders will be liable to a seven-year prison term.
8 n-count A term is the period for which a legal contract or insurance policy is valid.
with supp
Premiums are guaranteed throughout the term of the policy.
9 n-uncount The term of a woman's pregnancy is the nine month period that it lasts. Term is also used to refer to the end of the nine month period.
Women over 40 seem to be just as capable of carrying a baby to term as younger women.
10 n-plural The terms of an agreement, treaty, or other arrangement are the conditions that must be accepted by the people involved in it.
usu with supp
...the terms of the Helsinki agreement...
11 If you come to terms with something difficult or unpleasant, you learn to accept and deal with it.
come to terms with phrase V inflects, PHR n
She had come to terms with the fact that her husband would always be crippled.
12 If two people or groups compete on equal terms or on the same terms, neither of them has an advantage over the other.
on equal terms/on the same terms phrase PHR after v
I had at last found a sport where I could compete on equal terms with able-bodied people...
13 If two people are on good terms or on friendly terms, they are friendly with each other.
on good terms phrase v-link PHR, PHR after v
Madeleine is on good terms with Sarah...
14 You use the expressions in the long term, in the short term, and in the medium term to talk about what will happen over a long period of time, over a short period of time, and over a medium period of time.
in the long/short/medium term phrase PHR with cl
The agreement should have very positive results in the long term...
→
long-term
→
medium-term
→
short-term
15 If you do something on your terms, you do it under conditions that you decide because you are in a position of power.
on your terms phrase PHR after v
They will sign the union treaty only on their terms.
16 If you say that you are thinking in terms of doing a particular thing, you mean that you are considering it.
think in terms of phrase V inflects, PHR -ing/n
United should be thinking in terms of winning the European Cup...
17 →
in no uncertain terms →
uncertain →
in real terms →
real →
on speaking terms →
speak
half-term (half-terms plural ), half term Half-term is a short holiday in the middle of a school term.
(BRIT) n-var oft at N
There was no play school at half term, so I took them both to the cinema., ...the half-term holidays.
long-term (longer-term comparative )
1 adj Something that is long-term has continued for a long time or will continue for a long time in the future.
usu ADJ n (Antonym: short-term)
A new training scheme to help the long-term unemployed is expected..., The association believes new technology will provide a long-term solution to credit card fraud.
2 n-sing When you talk about what happens in the long term, you are talking about what happens over a long period of time, either in the future or after a particular event.
the N
In the long term the company hopes to open in Moscow and other major cities..., Over the long term, such measures may only make the underlying situation worse.
medium-term
Themedium-term is the period of time which lasts a few months or years beyond the present time, in contrast with the short term or the long term. n-sing usu N n
The medium-term economic prospects remained poor..., If a woman gives up her job to look after her baby, she will risk losing her salary in the medium-term and may seriously damage her long-term career prospects.
short-term
Short-term is used to describe things that will last for a short time, or things that will have an effect soon rather than in the distant future. adj usu ADJ n (Antonym: long-term)
Investors weren't concerned about short-term profits over the next few years..., This is a cynical manipulation of the situation for short-term political gain..., The company has 90 staff, almost all on short-term contracts...
term paper (term papers plural )A term paper is an essay or report which a student writes on a subject that he or she has studied during a term at a school, college, or university.
(AM) n-count
