terminology

Everyday

Terminology is the set of special words and phrases used in a subject or job, like the terminology of science, football or music. tree →

In the lessons

In school, teachers ask pupils to «use the correct terminology», for example «numerator» and «denominator» in maths, or «photosynthesis» in science, or «noun» and «verb» in grammar. Phrases: «technical terminology», «scientific terminology», «correct terminology».

Examples

• Use the correct terminology in your science write-up. tree →
• Football has its own terminology, like «offside» and «corner». tree →
• The doctor explained the medical terminology to Mum. tree →
• We made a glossary of maths terminology. tree →
• Music terminology includes words like «tempo» and «crescendo». tree →
• Computer terminology changes fast. tree →

Note

Usually uncountable. A single special word is «a term». Close words: «vocabulary», «jargon» (jargon often means words outsiders find hard to understand).

In Jewish tradition

Here it names the technical vocabulary of Hebrew grammar, such as the "mothers" among the letters.

Interpretation. Sefer Yetzirah divides the Hebrew letters into mothers, doubles and simples, and the tradition reads each group as having its own special role in creation.

Examples

• In usual Hebrew grammatical terminology, the term ‘mothers’ is reserved for the אִמּוֹת קְרִיאָה immot qeriʼah, ‘mothers of reading’ (whence Latin matres lectionis), the letters אהו״י Alef-Heh-Waw-Yod which can serve to represent either consonants or vowels. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) tree →

Note

Usually uncountable. A single special word is «a term». Close words: «vocabulary», «jargon» (jargon often means words outsiders find hard to understand).