–adjective

1.	becoming less or fewer; diminishing.

2.	Mathematics. (of a function) having the property that for any two points in the domain such that one is larger than the other, the image of the larger point is less than or equal to the image of the smaller point; nonincreasing. Compare increasing (def. 2).

–noun

1.	a word or group of words designating something, esp. in a particular field, as atom in physics, quietism in theology, adze in carpentry, or district leader in politics.

2.	any word or group of words considered as a member of a construction or utterance.

3.	the time or period through which something lasts.

4.	a period of time to which limits have been set: elected for a term of four years.

5.	one of two or more divisions of a school year, during which instruction is regularly provided.

6.	an appointed or set time or date, as for the payment of rent, interest, wages, etc.

7.

terms, a. conditions with regard to payment, price, charge, rates, wages, etc.: reasonable terms. b. conditions or stipulations limiting what is proposed to be granted or done: the terms of a treaty. c. footing or standing; relations: on good terms with someone. d. Obsolete. state, situation, or circumstances.

8.	Algebra, Arithmetic. a. each of the members of which an expression, a series of quantities, or the like, is composed, as one of two or more parts of an algebraic expression. b. a mathematical expression of the form axp, axpyq, etc., where a, p, and q are numbers and x and y are variables.

9.	Logic. a. the subject or predicate of a categorical proposition. b. the word or expression denoting the subject or predicate of a categorical proposition.

10.	Also called terminus. a figure, esp. of Terminus, in the form of a herm, used by the ancient Romans as a boundary marker; terminal figure.

11.	Law. a. an estate or interest in land or the like, to be enjoyed for a fixed period. b. the duration of an estate. c. each of the periods during which certain courts of law hold their sessions.

12.	completion of pregnancy; parturition.

13.	Archaic. a. end, conclusion, or termination. b. boundary or limit.

–verb (used with object)

14.	to apply a particular term or name to; name; call; designate.

—Idioms

15.	bring to terms, to force to agree to stated demands or conditions; bring into submission: After a long struggle, we brought them to terms.

16.	come to terms, a. to reach an agreement; make an arrangement: to come to terms with a creditor. b. to become resigned or accustomed: to come to terms with one's life.

17.	eat one's terms, British Informal. to study for the bar; be a law student.

18.	in terms of, with regard to; concerning: The book offers nothing in terms of a satisfactory conclusion.

–noun

1.	the conditio 555 n that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms, being manifested by growth through metabolism, reproduction, and the power of adaptation to environment through changes originating internally.

2.	the sum of the distinguishing phenomena of organisms, esp. metabolism, growth, reproduction, and adaptation to environment.

3.	the animate existence or period of animate existence of an individual: to risk one's life; a short life and a merry one.

4.	a corresponding state, existence, or principle of existence conceived of as belonging to the soul: eternal life.

5.	the general or universal condition of human existence: Too bad, but life is like that.

6.	any specified period of animate existence: a man in middle life.

7.	the perio 7f1 d of existence, activity, or effectiveness of something inanimate, as a machine, lease, or play: The life of the car may be ten years.

8.	a living being: Several lives were lost.

9.	living things collectively: the hope of discovering life on other planets; insect life.

10.	a particular aspect of existence: He enjoys an active physical life.

11.	the course of existence or sum of experiences and actions that constitute a person's existence: His business has been his entire life.

12.	a biography: a newly published life of Willa Cather.

13.	animation; liveliness; spirit: a speech full of life.

14.	resilience; elasticity.

15.	the force that makes or keeps something alive; the vivifying or quickening principle: The life of the treaty has been an increase of mutual understanding and respect.

16.	a mode or manner of existence, as in the world of affairs or society: So far her business life has not overlapped her social life.

17.	th 3e8 e period or extent of authority, popularity, approval, etc.: the life of the committee; the life of a bestseller.

18.	a prison sentence covering the remaining portion of the offender's animate existence: The judge gave him life.

19.	anything or anyone considered to be as precious as life: She was his life.

20.	a person or thing that enlivens: the life of the party.

21.	effervescence or sparkle, as of wines.

22.	pungency or strong, sharp flavor, as of substances whe ed2 n fresh or in good condition.

23.	nature or any of the forms of nature as the model or subject of a work of art: drawn from life.

24.	Baseball. another opportunity given to a batter to bat because of a misplay by a fielder.

25.	(in English pool) one of a limited number of shots allowed a player: Each pool player has three lives at the beginning of the game.

–adjective

26.	for or lasting a lifetime; lifelong: a life membership in a club; life imprisonment.

27.	of or pertaining to animate existence: the life force; life functions.

28.	working from nature or using a living model: a life drawing; a life class.

—Idioms

29.	as large as life, actually; indeed: There he stood, as large as life. Also, as big as life.

30.	come to life, a. to recover consciousness. b. to become animated and vigorous: The evening passed, but somehow the party never came to life. c. to appear lifelike: The characters of the novel came to life on the screen.

31.	for dear life, with desperate effort, energy, or speed: We ran for dear life, with the dogs at our heels. Also, for one's life.

32.	for the life of one, as hard as one tries; even with the utmost effort: He can't understand it for the life of him.

33.	get a life, to improve the quality of one's social and professional life: often used in the imperative to express impatience with someone's behavior.

34.	not on your life, Informal. absolutely not; under no circumstances; by no means: Will I stand for such a thing? Not on your life!

35.	take one's life in one's hands, to risk death knowingly: We were warned that we were taking our 47f lives in our hands by going through that swampy area.

36.	to the life, in perfect imitation; exactly: The portrait characterized him to the life.

–noun

1.	the act, system, or business of insuring property, life, one's person, etc., against loss or harm arising in specified contingencies, as fire, accident, death, disablement, or the like, in consideration of a payment proportionate to the risk involved.

2.	coverage by contract in which one party agrees to indemnify or reimburse another for loss that occurs under the terms of the contract.

3.	the contract itself, set forth in a written or printed agreement or policy.

4.	the amount for which anything is insured.

5.	an insurance premium.

6.	any means of guaranteeing against loss or harm: Taking vitamin C is viewed as an insurance against catching colds.

–adjective

7.	of or pertaining to a score that increases a team's lead and insures that the lead will be held if the opposing team should score once more: The home run gave the team an insurance run, making the score 7-5.