- the conditions that people offer, demand or accept when they make an agreement, an arrangement or a contract
- peace terms
- They failed to agree on the terms of a settlement.
- These are the terms and conditions of your employment.
- under the terms of something Under the terms of the agreement, their funding of the project will continue until 2025.
- terms for something We are negotiating terms for the development of the site.
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- conditions that you agree to when you buy, sell, or pay for something; a price or cost
- to buy something on easy terms (= paying for it over a long period)
- My terms are £20 a lesson.
- a way of expressing yourself or of saying something
- We wish to protest in the strongest possible terms (= to say we are very angry).
- I'll try to explain in simple terms.
- The letter was brief, and couched in very polite terms.
- She spoke of you in glowing terms (= expressing her admiration of you).
Synonyms languagelanguagevocabulary ▪ terms ▪ wording ▪ terminologyThese are all terms for the words and expressions people use when they speak or write, or for a particular style of speaking or writing.language a particular style of speaking or writing:- Give your instructions in everyday language.
- the language of the legal profession
- to have a wide/limited vocabulary
- The word has become part of advertising vocabulary.
- I’ll try to explain in simple terms.
- It was the standard form of wording for a consent letter.
- medical terminology
- Scientists are constantly developing new terminologies.
- formal/informal/everyday language/vocabulary/terms
- business/scientific/technical/specialized language/vocabulary/terminology
- A word enters the language/the vocabulary.
Idioms
See terms in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishbe on good, friendly, bad, etc. terms (with somebody)
- to have a good, friendly, etc. relationship with somebody
- I had no idea that you and he were on such intimate terms (= were such close friends).
- He is still on excellent terms with his ex-wife.
- I'm on first-name terms with my boss now (= we call each other by our first names).
be on speaking terms (with somebody) | be speaking (to somebody)
- to be willing to be polite or friendly towards somebody, especially after an argument
- She's not been on speaking terms with her uncle for years.
- Are they speaking to each other again yet?
Extra Examples- We are still on speaking terms after the argument.
- Ed and Dave aren't speaking at the moment.
come to terms (with somebody)
- to reach an agreement with somebody; to find a way of living or working together
- The enemy was eventually forced to come to terms.
come to terms with something
- to accept something unpleasant by learning to deal with it
- She is still coming to terms with her son's death.
a contradiction in terms
- a statement containing two words that contradict each other’s meaning
- A ‘nomad settlement’ is a contradiction in terms.
- The idea is almost a contradiction in terms.
in no uncertain terms
- clearly and strongly
- I told him what I thought of him in no uncertain terms.
in terms of something | in… terms
- 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.
- This title ranks alongside the Olympics in terms of importance.
- What does this mean in terms of cost?
- In terms of cost—how much were you thinking of charging?
- In terms of extra staff—how many will we need?
- In practical terms this law may be difficult to enforce.
- The decision was disastrous in political terms.
- He's talking in terms of starting a completely new career.
on equal terms (with somebody)
- having the same advantages and disadvantages as somebody else
- Can our industry compete on equal terms with its overseas rivals?
on your own terms | on somebody’s terms
- according to the conditions that you or somebody else decides
- I'll only take the job on my own terms.
- I'm not doing it on your terms.
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terms