term - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
term Word Meanings
- a word or phrase used to describe a thing
- a fixed or limited duration
- a period in which something is studied or considered
term Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
term Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/tɜːm/
US
/tɜrm/
term Word Etymology
term = term; Historical origin: Latin 'terminus' meaning 'boundary' → Old French 'terme' → English 'term'. Memory image: Imagine a finish line in a race, which represents the term or limit of the race, marking the end of one phase and the beginning of another.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I push a calendar page across the desk with my thumb and let it settle. I place a small note on a date and hold it there as a new term I’ll test with questions. I feel the effort, the wrist-ache of keeping focus, as I shift from the cue to the label. By the end I see the term emerge in my routine: a word you use to name a thing or a time you study.
Real Context
Term is a flexible English noun with three core meanings. First, a word or phrase used to describe a thing, such as a medical term or a legal term. Second, a fixed or limited duration, for example the term of a loan or the three-year term of a president. Third, a period in which something is studied or considered, like a school term or a term of reference. Learners often confuse term with time or deadline, or mix it with term paper and long-term as an adjective. A simple memory image is a finish line at the end of a phase, signaling a boundary or limit. Note that term is countable when talking about lengths and objects, and uncountable when referring to terminology as a field.
Usage Reminders
- - Use term to discuss a word or a period of time.
- - Don’t treat it as a precise deadline.
- - Pair with long-term or short-term for adjectives.
- - Count it when talking about durations (one term, two terms).
- - Distinguish terminology (terminology) from the word term itself.
Common Misconceptions
- Term only means a word; it can also mean a period of time.
- Term is the same as deadline or time limit.
- Term always needs a determiner (a term, the term).
- Long-term always refers to time, not to a noun meaning.
- Confusing 'term' with 'terminology' in every case.
Thinking Differences
Explain to an English speaker (meta, keep short)
Learning Tips
- Practice each sense with 2 collocations: term of office, long-term plan.
- Make a mini glossary: term (word), term (duration), term (period).
- Create memory images for boundaries and limits.
- Compare with synonyms like duration, period, semester to feel nuance.
- Use term in 3 different sentences each week.
- Check collocations: term paper, term sheet, lifetime term.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'term'?
A.A period of time
B.A type of food
C.A type of animal
D.A type of plant
Step 2: Usage
In which sentence is the word 'term' used correctly?
A.The president's term in office will end next year.
B.I saw a term at the zoo yesterday.
C.I had a delicious term for dinner.
D.I planted a beautiful term in my garden.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is similar to 'term'?
A.Night
B.Chair
C.Cup
D.Session
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'term'?
A.Instant
B.Rare
C.Permanent
D.Big
Step 5: Mastery
In what context would you hear the word 'term' being used?
A.At a restaurant ordering food
B.In a library borrowing books
C.At the beach building a sandcastle
D.In a classroom discussing academic periods
Related Listening
🔥 Advanced
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