What is Terminology: Definition and 179 Discussions

Terminology is a general word for the group of specialized words or meanings relating to a particular field, and also the study of such terms and their use. This is also known as terminology science. Terms are words and compound words or multi-word expressions that in specific contexts are given specific meanings—these may deviate from the meanings the same words have in other contexts and in everyday language. Terminology is a discipline that studies, among other things, the development of such terms and their interrelationships within a specialized domain. Terminology differs from lexicography, as it involves the study of concepts, conceptual systems and their labels (terms), whereas lexicography studies words and their meanings.
Terminology is a discipline that systematically studies the "labelling or designating of concepts" particular to one or more subject fields or domains of human activity. It does this through the research and analysis of terms in context for the purpose of documenting and promoting consistent usage. Terminology can be limited to one or more languages (for example, "multilingual terminology" and "bilingual terminology"), or may have an interdisciplinarity focus on the use of terms in different fields.

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  1. B

    Some terminology clarification, please.

    I'm a physicist trying to learn some chemistry for my research (on-surface reactions and assembly) but am having some trouble with getting the meaning of some of the terms straight. Often one source seems to contradict another, in my reading of it at least. Specifically, the meaning of the...
  2. RabbitWho

    Medical Brain terminology question - association areas?

    Müller's law seems to differ from the modern statement of the law in one key way. Müller attributed the quality of an experience to some specific quality of the energy in the nerves. For example, the visual experience from light shining into the eye, or from a poke in the eye, arises from some...
  3. M

    Where Can I Find a Concise Resource on Common Programming Terminology?

    hello english is not my native language and the few programming literature I have read in my language, is so badly translated from english, that makes it more difficult to comprehend I understand that almost all programming languages share some terms, like class, function, command, object...
  4. K

    Basic terminology in Non Linear Analysis

    I am new to non linear dynamics, I am reading some papers and there are terms that I am finding every which I still have no idea about their meaning. What is: 1. Inhibitory coupling 2. An attractor Any explanation or reference is warmly welcome Thanks
  5. S

    A question about terminology of phase state & criticality

    I'm looking at the diagram (Figure 1) at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercritical_fluid I get that the region in which both the temperature & pressure are higher than the critical point is called a supercritical fluid, which really means it is both a gas & a liquid, thermodynamically...
  6. Labyrinth

    What Are the Terms for Interdependent Concepts and Imbalanced Correct Claims?

    Hello, 1. What is the technical term for two things (concepts/ideas/phenomena) that depend on one another and cannot be reduced further? I was going to use this in relation to "Physical Evidence and Reasoned Logic" as neither seems more fundamental than the other. Without logic, evidence...
  7. F

    The relation between two terminology cusp (group & algebraic curve)

    The relation between two terminology "cusp" (group & algebraic curve) Dear Folks: I come across the word "cusp" in two different fields and I think they are related. Could anyone specify their relationship for me?? Many thanks! the cusp of an algebraic curve: for example: (0,0)...
  8. H

    What is Upsetting in Forging Die Design?

    hello, expert people, i am fresh mechanical engineer. right now i am reading about forging die design. i can not understand one term. i.e. upsetting or upsetter. please explain me about it.
  9. F

    Telecommunications terminology

    Hello, I have just started reading some telecommunications basic concepts. I have a question regarding the following phrase: "when considering that transmission lines are used in transmitting AC signals: R << ωL G << ωC In high frequency applications the R is so much smaller than the xL...
  10. N

    Terminology (what constitutes an undergrad institution)

    I did a search on google but I was coming up with some mixed answers. I wanted to apply to this REU program and it said it was for students who are attending undergraduate institution. My two questions are the following: Are community colleges considered undergraduate institutions? Is a...
  11. F

    Induction Motor Torque-Speed Graph: Rated Power & Full Load

    In terms of a torque-speed graph, for an induction motor the torque at 0% synchronous speed is roughly 150x that of full load torque and the motor only reaches 100% full load torque at roughly 95% of it's synchronous speed (depending on the rated slip)...
  12. P

    I Terminology - the upper state

    Terminology - the "upper state" Hi there! I'm reading a paper at the moment that describes a formula for an absorption coefficient with regard to radiative transfer. One of the variables in it is referred to as "N2". It describes N2 as "The number density of atoms in the upper state"...
  13. M

    Proving Limits: δ = min(δ1,δ2) Meaning Explained

    The chapter I am reading is on proving limits... The terms "δ = min(δ1,δ2)" has came up a few times but what does it mean? My guess is that the distances δ1 and δ2 are some where in the interval of the distance δ about some x value.
  14. M

    Why is tension used for gas and electricity measurements?

    Does anyone know why 19th Century scientists used the word "tension", meaning - etymologically- stretched, for the partial pressure of a gas? Likewise, the use of "tension" for potential [there is that root again] difference in electrical circuits?
  15. I

    What are the Different Types of Dielectrics?

    Hi I have some comments/questions about the terminology used for dielectrics in physics textbooks. Linear dielectric means that components of \vec{P} are linear combination of the components of \vec{E}. Homogeneous dielectric means that dielectric constant is not the function of...
  16. A

    Explain this terminology Steel Cord?

    What do people in the industry usually mean by steel cord? Is it the same as steel wire, steel rope? Pictures, Wiki, professional article/dictionary would be appreciated. I googled it but the results are still quite too blurry. Thanks in advance!
  17. A

    Optimizing Railcar Fatigue Resistance: Terminology and Calculations

    Hi everyone. I'm trying to find a proper wording for "Calculations made to show the fatigue resistance of a railcar to which multicycle loading is applied". Would someone please advise how to rephrase the phrase so it sounds good and professional? "Railcar multicycle loading fatigue...
  18. S

    Often a terminology is used in Electrodynamics

    Often a terminology is used in Electrodynamics "in the absence of static and moving charges" of a magnetic medium. what does this corresponds to and how do Maxwell turns out to be in this situation? Please explain the context in detail.
  19. A

    Medical How is new terminology introduced to a field?

    I think we badly need some new terminology for substances that have biological effects. We need more general words for these substances, the word "drug" just isn't enough. For instance we should have a word for a drug used to alleviate the symptoms of an ailment to reduce the ambiguity...
  20. bcrowell

    Terminology for Doppler shifts

    Here are some different descriptions of Doppler shifts: 1. The gamma rays in the Pound-Rebka experiment were Doppler shifted. 2a. We make a cosmological model using coordinates in which an object moving with the Hubble flow has a zero coordinate velocity, so all galaxies are "at rest." An...
  21. G

    Bell's theorem and QM: Peres' conclusion and terminology?

    .. In his text-book "Quantum Theory: Concepts and Methods", Asher Peres (1995) writes: A: "Bell's theorem is not a property of quantum theory." - (p.162, Peres' emphasis). B: "This conclusion can be succinctly stated: unperformed experiments have no results." - (p.168, Peres' emphasis)...
  22. R

    Dynabee/powerball wrist exerciser terminology

    Good day, and thanks for having me on you forum. I’ve been searching the web for the terminology used to explain the principal involved that causes the Dynabee/powerball wrist exerciser, rotor center pin to rotate in an opposite direction, relative to each end of the center pin. I understand...
  23. M

    Terminology for levels of body interactivity

    I have two simple questions: 1) What is the scientific term for "a body that cannot affect another body"? Effectively, as if this body has a mass of zero. The body can move freely until it contacts another body, in which case it will not be able to affect the other body in any way, and thus be...
  24. S

    Is Reflection the Right Term for a Goalie's Mistake in Foosball?

    When playing foosball, what term should be used when a goalie shoots the ball and it is immediately blocked back into the goalie's own goal? My friend continues to use the term reflection to describe this action. Is this the correct usage of the term?
  25. H

    Terminology for (anti)symmetric tensors in characteristic 2

    When working over a field of characteristic not 2, or otherwise with modules over a ring where 2 is invertible, there is no ambiguity in what one means by symmetric or anti-symmetric rank 2 tensors. All of definitions of the anti-symmetric tensors The module of anti-symmetric tensors is the...
  26. Rasalhague

    Series: terminology & notation

    (1) Given a sequence \left \langle a_n \right \rangle:\mathbb{N} \rightarrow \mathbb{R} = (a_1,a_2,a_3,...) \; \bigg| \; \left \langle a_n \right \rangle(p) = a_p and another sequence that's the series, \left \langle s_n \right \rangle:\mathbb{N} \rightarrow \mathbb{R} =...
  27. M

    What Does F Represent in Group Theory?

    Hi- Let me first start by saying that I do not have a mathematics background and I have a feeling my question is a moronic one but my attempts with "google" did not help so here I am. I am about to do an assignment (but this is not a homework question IMHO) that asks me to determine if...
  28. P

    Angle of Deviation: Plane Mirror Reflection

    What is meant by angle between reflected ray and incident ray , the angle of deviation or the sum of angles of incidence and reflection ? ( For a plane mirror )
  29. S

    Terminology: free algebra with binary op, constant.

    In the sense of 'universal algebra': The natural numbers N can be presented as an free algebra with one constant (0) and one -unary- operation s(x) (i.e. x --> x+1). We have (of course) elements 0, s(0), s(s(0)), etc... Is there a good name for a set A with one constant (*) and one...
  30. C

    Medical Terminology: weep (of a wound)

    Terminology: "weep" (of a wound) Consider a typical open sore or wound -- in this case, from poison ivy contact. What do you call the yellowish secretions? I've heard it as 'weeping', but my Google searches haven't shown this to be particularly common -- and of course it's confused with...
  31. Danger

    Origin of Pilot Term "Balls-to-the-Wall

    Most of my friends, both on PF and in person, are accustomed to me using the phrase "balls-to-the-wall" to indicate a flat-out effort. It never occurred to me, until someone (in person) mentioned it earlier today, that it might be deemed offensive by some. I want to explain that there is no...
  32. C

    What Are the Correct Terms for Rolling Wheels vs. Rolling Balls?

    Greetings, I have a peculiar terminological issue. In a research paper I am writing, I need to distinguish between rolling wheels and rolling balls. The relevant difference for my purposes is that a wheel rotates around a single axis whereas a ball rotates around a single point. It's...
  33. C

    Physical Chemistry terminology

    I'm just having a difficult time trying to differentiate between variables used and terms thrown around in PChem. :confused: First of all, what is the difference between "bond energy" and "bond dissociation energy" in a Morse potential curve? I thought they were interchangeable. Also, does...
  34. Fredrik

    Another terminology question. ZFC and classes.

    It's often said that the axioms of ZFC set theory are the foundation of mathematics, but the same people who say that also use the term "class" a lot. For example, "the class of all ordinals", is apparently too large to qualify as a set. What's bugging me right now is that I read that there's no...
  35. G

    Looking For A Solid Material Light Diffuser - Terminology?

    I'm looking for a solid material that will diffuse light throughout it. In particular I would need a thin bar with a light source at one end that will diffuse light to all sides of the bar, however, I don't specifically need a bar as long as the material can be machined. I'm trying to search...
  36. DaveC426913

    Terminology: Dwarf Planet vs. ProtoPlanet

    For a Grade 9 textbook: "Many more objects exist in the solar system besides the eight major planets. These are smaller and include moons, comets, protoplanets, such as Pluto, and tiny grains of dust and ice." Is this acceptably-worded or is it misleading? My take is that the term...
  37. J

    Harmonics terminology for an open-closed tube

    Homework Statement When you have an open-closed tube, I was taught in high school that when using the equation λ = 4L/m, m = 1, 3, 5, 7, ... where m = 1 corresponds to the fundamental mode. I was taught that m = 1 is the 1st harmonic, m = 3 is the 3rd harmonic, etc. But my physics...
  38. O

    Confused about the terminology for the domain pde

    Homework Statement δu/δt+2tδu/δx=1 for t>0,x>0 with u= 0 on x= 0 for t>0, u=1 at t=0 for x≥0 Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution ((dx)/(dt))=2t x=t²+c x-t²=c the general solution is: u=t+F(x-t²) Now i am...
  39. N

    Operator Terminology: What Does the Asterisk Mean?

    What does the asterisk mean?
  40. M

    Terminology? (heated to reflux, washed, etc)

    Hi, Could someone help me out regarding chemist lingo? i) "were heated to reflux for one hour" Does it mean that the stuff was heated, or even boiling, but with condensing the vapor back to the container (so that the solvent is not lost)? ii) "the solution was then washed with 5%...
  41. L

    What Does Distinguished Really Mean in Technical and Legal Contexts?

    Terminology; "distinguished" I've always thought that understanding at a profound level requires real precision in the use of language. I was recently reading Julian Barbour's book, The End of Time where he regularly uses the word distinguished as an adjective, as in "distinguished frames of...
  42. S

    What Is a Metric Space and How Is It Defined?

    Hi I have two questions, 1. A metric space is an ordered pair (M,d) where M is a set (which some authors require to be non-empty) and d is a metric on M, that is, a function d : M x M -> R ------------From Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metric_space#Definition I just...
  43. N

    Inequalities: What are the English Terminologies for > and >=?

    Homework Statement Hi all What is a ">" called in English, and likewise, what is ">=" called in English?
  44. L

    Describing Physical Events with Spacetime Points

    Hi. I'm trying to convey that all physical events occur at a point in spacetime describing the position and time at which they occur but it's for a presentation and there's not much room on the slides so I need to keep it brief. At the moment I have: "Any physical event can be described by a...
  45. Monocerotis

    Two numbers have a sum of 13 (terminology & help)

    Homework Statement 10) Two numbers have a sum of 13. 10)a) Find the minimum of the sum of their squares. 10)b) What are the two numbers Homework Equations y=ax2+bx+c y=a(x-h)2+k According to the text: for a quadratic function in the forum of y=a(x-h)2+k, the maximum or minimum...
  46. Q

    Need Help Understanding Misner Space Terminology

    Hello! I'm having trouble understanding some of the terminology used to describe Misner (or Milne) Space. Some of the words that are troubling me are "Orbifold" (is this related at all to the cylindrical structure of the Misner universe?), "translation symmetry" (does this refer to the idea that...
  47. marcus

    Exploring the Language of Cosmology Basics: Introducing Terminology to Newcomers

    In this PF Cosmo forum context we have to be sensitive/practical about language. How to state cosmo basics, especially to newcomers who may not have assimilated technical terms like "scalefactor" yet. This does not mean we dumb everything to the max! Introductory terms should lay a basis of...
  48. N

    Analyzing Singularities in Complex Functions

    Hi all We look at f(z)=\sqrt z . Here the point z0=0 is a branch point, but can/is z0=0 also regarded as a zero?
  49. G

    Terminology question

    Hi, I have question about terminology for differential equations. Let's say that I have x, which is a function of t and p. p is also a function of t. So x(t, p(t)) is my function. Let's say that I take derivative of x with respect to, which will give me: xt + xppt In the above...
  50. G

    Graph Theory Terminology: Vertices, Edges, Endpoints

    I was wondering if I could get some help with the terminology when it comes to graph theory. In this picture : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:6n-graf.svg the numerical values are vertices (or nodes as some call it), so what are the edges then (are they the lines that connect the nodes)...
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