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.

Electronics, Telecommunications and computers

• Short for Terminal (see relevant section).
• On modern computer systems, specifically a Terminal emulator.

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