system of) specialized words and expressions used in a particular science, profession, activity etc: medical terminology —-ogical /,t3:m:nə'lɒd3ɪkəl↔,t3:r:m:nə'laː-/ adj —-ogically /kli/ adv
ter·mi·nus /'tɜːmɪnəs/ 'tɜːr-/ n pl. -ni /naɪ/ or -nuses a stop or station at the end of a railway or bus line → compare TERMINAL
ter·mite /'tɜːmɪt/ 'tɜːr-/ also white ant n an antlike insect that lives in very large groups in tropical areas, eats and destroys wood, and builds large hills of hard earth → see picture at INSECT
term·ly /'tɜːmlɪlˈtɜːr-/ adj especially BrE happening each TERM: termly exams
terms /tɜːrmz|tɜːrmz/ n [P] 1 the conditions of an agreement, contract etc: a contract specifying the terms of employment | According to/Under the terms of the agreement, British ships will be allowed to take a limited quantity of fish each year: | If I agree to do it, it will be on my own terms. (=I will name the conditions) 2 [(at, on)] the stated conditions concerning payment, prices etc: We sell furniture at very reasonable terms. | to negotiate a loan on favourable terms | He bought the car on easy terms. (=paying for it gradually, not all at once) 3 [(on)] a relationship of the stated quality: I'm not on very good terms with her (=we are not friendly) at the moment. | After their argument they weren't on speaking terms. (=refused to speak to each other) | We met on equal terms. (=as equals) 4 come to terms with to accept (something one does not want to accept): It's hard to come to terms with going blind. 5 in terms of ... /in ... terms with regard to; from the point of view of: The book has been well reviewed, but in terms of actual sales/in sales terms it hasn't been very successful. | In business terms the project is not really viable, but it would add to the prestige of the company. | We're thinking in terms of (=considering) moving to the South, as there are so few jobs in the North. | The recent increase in inflation means that our income has been reduced in real terms. (=after taking account of price rises) | It sounds like a good suggestion, but I wonder what it will mean in practical terms. (=in actual fact)
terms of 'reference n [P] the subject(s) to which an inquiry, report etc, has been limited: This problem is outside the committee's terms of reference.
'term-time n [U] BrE the part of the year when classes are given at a school, college, or university
tern /tɜːn/ n a long-winged black and white fork-tailed seabird
ter-race /'terɪs/ n 1 especially BrE a row of houses joined to each other → compare TOWN HOUSE; see colour photo on page A40 2 AmE a BALCONY or PORCH 3 [usually pl.] especially BrE any of a number of wide steps on which watchers stand at a football match 4 a) BrE ‖ usually patio AmE a flat area next to a house usually with a stone floor, used as an outdoor living area b) a flat roof used as an outdoor living area → see also PATIO 5 a flat level area cut from a slope, usually one of a number rising one behind and above the other, used especially for growing crops
ter·raced /'terɜːst/ adj [A] a terraced field, slope, garden etc has been cut into a series of flat areas along the side of the slope: terraced rice fields
Terraced 'house BrE  $ \parallel $ row house AmE — n a house which is part of a TERRACE  $ \rightarrow $ see colour photo on page A40
terra-cotta /,terə'kɒtə- 'kɑː-/ n [U] hard reddish brown baked clay: a terracotta vase
ter-ra fir-ma /,terə 'fɜːməl-'fɜːr-/ n [U] pomp or humor dry land: We were glad to reach terra firma again.
ter·rain /te'reɪn, tɜːr/ n [C;U] an area of land, especially when considered with regard to whether it is rough, smooth, easy or difficult to cross etc: rocky terrain
ter·ra·pin /'terəpən/ n pl. terrapin or terrapins a small TURTLE that lives in rivers and lakes in warm areas, sometimes kept as a pet
Ter·rence Hig·gins Trust, the /,terəns 'higinz ,trast/ a British CHARITY organization which was started in 1983 and gives help and advice to people suffering from or worried about AIDS and HIV INFECTION
ter·res·tri·al /təˈrestriəl/ adj 1 of the Earth (rather than the moon, space etc) → see also EXTRATERRESTRIAL 2 of, living on, or being land (rather than water): terrestrial animals ︷ly adv
ter-ri-ble /'terɪbəl/ adj 1 extremely severe; causing suffering, destruction etc: a terrible war/accident/winter 2 causing great dislike, shock, or fear: Suddenly there was a terrible noise, and the train came off the rails.  $ \dagger $ It was a terrible sight. 3 infml extremely bad; AWFUL: We had a terrible time on holiday.  $ \dagger $ What a terrible meal!
,terrible 'twos, the [P] the condition of being a small child, around two years old, whose behaviour is often rather difficult: 'How old is little Johnny now?' 'He's just approaching the terrible twos!'
ter-ri-bly /'terʃbli/ adv 1 infml very; extremely: I've been terribly worried about you all day. | We were terribly lucky to find you here. | I'm terribly sorry to have kept you waiting. 2 very badly, severely etc: He played that piece of music terribly.
ter·ri·er /'teriər/ n a small active dog of a type originally used for hunting
ter·rif·ic /təˈrifik/ adj infml 1 very good and especially enjoy-able; excellent: We had a terrific time at the disco. | What a terrific party! 2 very great in size or degree: She drove at a terrific speed
ter·rif·i·cally /tə'rifikli/ adv infml very; extremely; It's terrifi-
cally cold again today.
ter-ri-fied /'terʃfaɪd/ adj [(of, at] very much afraid; badly frightened: a terrified child | I'm terrified of snakes. | He was terrified at the thought of parachuting. | [F+(that)] We were terrified (that) the bridge would collapse. → see FRIGHTENED (USAGE)
ter·ri·fy /'terʃfaɪ/ v. [T] to fill with terror or fear: Heights terrify me. | a terrifying ordeal
ter-ri-to-ri-al¹ /,terəˈtɔːriəl/ adj film 1 [no comp.] of or being land or territory: Most of Britain's former territorial possessions are now independent. | The two countries had a territorial dispute over which one owned the island. 2 (of animals, birds etc) showing a tendency to guard one's own TERRITORY
territorial² n (often cap.) a member of the British Territorial Army
Territorial 'Army, the abbrev. TA also Territorials
British military organization in which people who are not
regular members of the army are trained to be soldiers
during their free time
territorial 'waters n [P] the sea near a country's coast, over which that country has legal control and in which foreigners are not allowed to catch fish
terri-to-ry /'teritərɪl-to:ri/ n [C;U] 1 a) (an area of) land, especially considered with regard to the government that owns or controls it: The explorers claimed the land as British territory. | The guerillas were operating inside South African territory. | We travelled through unknown territory. | (fig.) The company is moving into unfamiliar/virgin territory with this new range of computer software. | (fig.) You're (treading) on rather dangerous territory if you mention that incident; it upsets him. b) US territories such as the Virgin Islands and Guam; most US states were once US territories 2 (an) area regarded by a person or especially an animal as belonging to it alone and defended against others entering it: The black bird sang to warn other birds off its territory. 3 (an) area for which one person or branch of an organization is responsible: As the company's northern sales manager I'm responsible for quite a large territory. 4 infml an area of interest of knowledge: I'm afraid I can't tell you the answer to that esoteric religions are a bit outside my territory. 5 sth comes goes with the territory used in order to say that something, especially a problem, is a usual part of a particular job, situation etc that people should expect: I'm sure there'll be more complaints before we're finished organizing this banquet, but it comes with the territory. | Nevin hasn't been able to train for the next game because of an ankle problem; such difficulties seem to go with the territory.
ter·ror /'terər/ n 1 [S(of);U] extreme fear: The people ran from the enemy in terror. | a look of sheer terror on his face | I have a terror of insects. 2 [(the)S(of)] someone or something that causes extreme fear: The criminal was the terror of the neighbourhood. 3 [U] violent action for political purposes;