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# term

«term» in Mova's school dictionary: **one of the parts the school year is divided into, such as…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

noun (a term, terms); verb (term, termed — formal)

### meaning for a pupil

1) A term is one of the parts the school year is divided into, such as the autumn term. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/term/#m1)

2) A term is a word or phrase with a special meaning in a subject: «a science term». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/term/#m2)

3) A term is a fixed length of time: «a term in office», «long-term». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/term/#m3)

4) In maths a term is one number or part in a sequence or an expression: in 2, 4, 6, 8 the third term is 6. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/term/#m4)

5) To term something is to call it by a name (formal). [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/term/#m5)

### sense in the lessons

At school pupils have terms and holidays: in the UK, Ireland, Australia and NZ the year has three or four terms; in the USA people usually say «semester». In maths, «the next term», «the 10th term», «the rule for the terms» are used for sequences, and in algebra «like terms» can be added. In every subject, pupils learn «key terms» (vocabulary). Phrases: «end of term», «in the long term», «technical term», «in terms of».

### examples

- The summer term ends in July. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/term/#x1)
- What is the next term in the sequence 3, 6, 9? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/term/#x2)
- «Photosynthesis» is a science term. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/term/#x3)
- The president serves a four-year term. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/term/#x4)
- In the long term, exercise keeps you healthy. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/term/#x5)
- Learn these key terms for the test. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/term/#x6)
- The fifth term of 1, 3, 5, 7… is 9. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/term/#x7)
- Their term of office was thirty years. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/term/#x8)

### note

Plural: terms. For «terms» (conditions, relationship) see the separate entry. Maths: in a sequence, «term 1» is the first number; the «position» tells which term. US: «semester» or «term»; «full-term baby» = born at the normal time.

### In the corpora

- [Many adults take a tablet every day to keep a long-term condition, like high blood pressure, under control.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/20-the-doctor-and-the-chemist/15/)
- [Many teachers suggest giving a new instrument at least a full term before deciding, and recording yourself shows your progress.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/arts/3-practising-when-you-would-rather-not/15/)
- [Grammar terms are useful because they let you talk about how sentences work, though nobody needs to know every term perfectly.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/english/52-sats-grammar-punctuation-and-spelling-paper/16/)
- ["Visually impaired" means partly or fully blind; it is the official term.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/euphemisms/4-illness-disability-and-babies/10/)
- ["Learning difficulties" is the British official term for an intellectual disability.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/euphemisms/5-drink-mind-and-body/11/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «term» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/term/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.