Terms

noun [pl.]

1. （协议、合同等的）条件，条款 （the conditions that people offer, demand or accept when they make an agreement, an arrangement or a contract）

peace terms 和平条件

Under the terms of the agreement , their funding of the project will continue until 2010.

根据协议条款，他们为这个项目提供资金，直到2010年为止。

They failed to agree on the terms of a settlement.

他们未能就和解的条件达成协议。

These are the terms and conditions of your employment.

这些是聘用你的条件。

2. （交易的）条件；价钱；费用 （conditions that you agree to when you buy, sell, or pay for sth; a price or cost）

to buy sth on easy terms (= paying for it over a long period) 按分期付款方式购买

My terms are £20 a lesson.

每教一课书我收费20英镑。

3. 表达方式；措辞；说法 （a way of expressing yourself or of saying sth）

We wish to protest in the strongest possible terms (= to say we are very angry) .

我们想要以最强硬的措辞抗议。

I'll try to explain in simple terms.

我会尽量讲得通俗易懂。

The letter was brief, and couched in very polite terms .

这封信内容简短，措辞特别客气。

习语

1. be on good, friendly, bad, etc. terms (with sb) （与某人）关系好（或友好、不好等） (to have a good, friendly, etc. relationship with sb)

I had no idea that you and he were on such intimate terms (= were such close friends) .

我还不知道你和他的关系这么密切。

He is still on excellent terms with his ex-wife.

他仍然和前妻保持着极好的关系。

I'm on first-name terms with my boss now (= we call each other by our first names) .

现在我和老板交情很好，相互直呼其名。

2. come to terms (with sb)（与某人）达成协议，妥协 (to reach an agreement with sb; to find a way of living or working together)

3. come to terms with sth 迁就顺从；接受（令人不快的事物）；适应（困难的处境） (to accept sth unpleasant by learning to deal with it)

She is still coming to terms with her son's death.

她还没有完全从儿子死亡的阴影中走出来。

4. in terms of sth

in…terms

谈及；就…而言；在…方面 (used to show what aspect of a subject you are talking about or how you are thinking about it)

The job is great in terms of salary, but it has its disadvantages.

就薪金而言，这个工作倒是挺不错的，但也有一些不利之处。

The decision was disastrous in political terms.

从政治上来看，这个决定是灾难性的。

He's talking in terms of starting a completely new career.

他正在谈论开创全新的事业。

In terms of cost─how much were you thinking of charging?

说到费用，你们想要多少？

5. on your own terms

on sb's terms

按照自己的条件；根据…的主张 (according to the conditions that you or sb else decides)

I'll only take the job on my own terms.

我只会按照自己的条件接受这份工作。

I'm not doing it on your terms.

我不会按你的条件办的。

6. a contradiction in terms矛盾词项；对立词项 (a statement containing two words that contradict each other's meaning)

A ‘nomad settlement’ is a contradiction in terms.

“游牧者的定居”是用词上的自相矛盾。

7. in no uncertain terms明确有力地；毫不含糊地 (clearly and strongly)

I told him what I thought of him in no uncertain terms.

我直言不讳地说出了我对他的看法。

Term

noun

1. [C] 词语；术语；措辞 （a word or phrase used as the name of sth, especially one connected with a particular type of language）

a technical/legal/scientific, etc. term 技术、法律、科学等术语

a term of abuse 咒骂用语

‘Register’ is the term commonly used to describe different levels of formality in language.

“语域”是一个术语，通常用以描述语言中用语的正式程度。

2. NAmE also trimester [C, U] 学期（尤用于英国，学校一年分三个学期）（(especially in Britain) one of the three periods in the year during which classes are held in schools, universities, etc.）

the spring/summer/autumn/fall term 春季 / 夏季 / 秋季学期

Many students now have paid employment during term .

现在许多学生在上学期间就从事有薪工作。

(BrE) It's nearly the end of term .

学期快要结束了。

(NAmE) the end of the term 期终

3. [C] 期；期限；任期 （a period of time for which sth lasts; a fixed or limited time）

during the president's first term of/in office 在总统的首届任期内

He faces a maximum prison/jail term of 25 years. 他面临25年的最高刑期。

a long term of imprisonment 长期监禁

4. [sing.] (formal) 到期；期满 （the end of a particular period of time, especially one for which an agreement, etc. lasts）

the term of the loan 贷款期限

His life had reached its natural term. 他已尽其天年。

(medical 医) The pregnancy went to full term (= lasted the normal length of time) .

那次怀孕到了足月。

5. [C] (mathematics数) （数列、方程等的）项 （each of the various parts in a series, an equation etc.）

习语

1. in terms of

in … terms

谈及；就…而言；在…方面 （used when you are referring to a particular aspect of sth）

What does this mean in terms of cost?

这在成本上意味着什么？

This title ranks alongside the Olympics in terms of importance.

这项冠军的重要程度可与奥运会冠军媲美。

In practical terms this law may be difficult to enforce.

从实际的角度来看，这项法律可能难以执行。

The operation was considered a success in military terms.

就军事角度看，这次行动是成功的。

In terms of extra staff─how many will we need?

就额外的员工来说，我们需要多少人？

2. in the long/short/medium term 长 / 短 / 中期内 （used to describe what will happen a long, short, etc. time in the future）

Such a development seems unlikely, at least in the short term (= it will not happen for quite a long time). 发生这样的情况看来可能性不大，起码短期之内应当如此。

long-term：

adj. [usually before noun]

（1）长期的；长远的；长期有效的 （that will last or have an effect over a long period of time）

a long-term strategy 长期的战略

the long-term effects of fertilizers 肥料的长远影响

a long-term investment 长线投资

（2）近期不大可能改变的；不大可能很快解决的（that is not likely to change or be solved quickly）

long-term unemployment 长期失业

medium-term：

adj. 中期的（used to describe a period of time that is a few weeks or months into the future）

the government's medium-term financial strategy 政府的中期金融策略

short-term：

adj. [usually before noun] 短期的；近期的（lasting a short time; designed only for a short period of time in the future）

a short-term loan 短期贷款

to find work on a short-term contract 找一份短期合同工作

short-term plans 近期计划

a short-term solution to the problem 解决这个问题的短期措施

His short-term memory (= the ability to remember things that happened a short time ago) is failing. 他的短时记忆越来越差了。

verb [also VN-ADJ]

1. [often passive] (formal) 把…称为；把…叫做（to use a particular name or word to describe sb/sth）

[VN-N] At his age, he can hardly be termed a young man.

到了这个年纪，他称不上是年轻人了。

REM sleep is termed ‘active’ sleep.

快速眼动睡眠称作“主动”睡眠。