in terms of

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in terms of

1. (mathematics) Using equivalent expressions that use one variable in place of expressions involving the other.

   If x=2y then 5x can be expressed in terms of y as 10y.

2. In relation to a particular aspect; with respect to; as regards; concerning; regarding.

   I switched to a different bank for better customer service, but there was little difference in terms of interest rates.

   She has no idea how she wants the house to look in terms of décor.

   • 2021 February 9, Christina Newland, “Is Tom Hanks part of a dying breed of genuine movie stars?”, in BBC‎:

     The fact is, "dad" is a designation you could assign – at least in terms of age – to many of Hollywood's biggest male actors.

3. As an approach or way of proceeding.
   • 1947, Committee on Banking and Currency, quoting Roy White, Proposed Extension of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation: Apr. 10-May 23, 1947, page 143:

     We had been thinking in terms of purchasing those notes on the market, since they were selling at a discount.

   • 1979 December 29, Vern Hall-Smith, “Fundamentalists March”, in Gay Community News, volume 7, number 23, page 5:

     Various groups throughout the country are thinking in terms of having a counter-demonstration in re the Fundamentalists' March to Return Morality to America.

• The second sense is deprecated by some as showing ignorance of the connection with the first sense, but the usage is well-established and is generally accepted as idiom. In terms of differs from regarding in that the former usually refers to a particular aspect of a certain topic, whilst the latter is usually used to introduce a new topic.

• (in relation to): apropos, as for; See also Thesaurus:about

• informest