(1)期间，期限 (period of time to which limits have been set)[C]：a～of office 任职期;complete one's～完成任期;a six-year～as a senator 参议员的六年任期;peace～s 和平时期;The President is elected for a four year～. 总统任期四年。a long～of imprisonment 长期监禁;

(2)到期，期满(point of time beginning or ending a period)[C，U]：a pregnancy/life approach-ing its natural～怀孕接近分娩期/大限将至;The contract/lease is getting near its～. 合同/租约快到期了。

(3)学期(one of two or more divisions of a school year，during which instruction is regularly provided)[C]：at the end of～学期末;next～下学期;～paper 学期论文;have two～s a year 一年有两个学期;end-of-～examinations 期末考试;the autumn/spring/summer～秋/春/夏季学期;

(4)(法律)法庭的开庭期(period during which a court holds its session);

(5)专门名词;术语(word or group of words that is used in a particular job or activity and which has a special meaning in this)[C]：a medical～医学术语;technical/legal/scientific～s 技术/法律/科学术语;a contradiction in～s 言辞上的矛盾;

in the long/short term 从长远/眼前的观点(利益)看来：If you buy this expensive painting，it could cost you a lot of money in the short～，but it could save you a lot of money in the long～. 如果你买下这幅昂贵的画，从眼前看会花去你许多钱，但从长远的利益看，又会省下你许多钱。

on good/bad terms (with)和……关系很好/不好：The Robinsons have always been on good/bad～s with their neighbours. 罗宾逊一家和邻居的关系一直很好/不好;

in terms of 就……来说：In～s of natural resources it is one of the poorest countries in western Europe. 就自然资源来说，这个国家是西欧资源最贫乏的国家之一。

come to terms 达成协议，和解：The two sides came to～s and the strike was ended. 双方达成协议后，罢工结束了。