<term>

Definition List: Term

Word, phrase, graphic, chemical structure, equation, or other noun that is being defined or described.
This element is typically used in conjunction with a definition in a definition list (two-part list). The term occupies the first column of the two-part list and is the subject of the definition or description, which occupies the second column.

Related Elements

A <def-list> may take a <label> that provides it with a number or other designator, followed by an optional <title> naming the entire list, followed by optional headings for terms and their definitions. <term-head> contains the heading over the first (term) column, and <def-head> contains the heading for the second (definition) column; neither serves as a container element for terms or definitions. Individual <term>s and their <def>s are paired in <def-item>s. Definition lists are recursive, so following all the terms and definitions, there may be one or more embedded <def-list> elements.

Attributes

Content Model

<!ELEMENT  term         (#PCDATA %term-elements;)*                   >

Expanded Content Model

(#PCDATA | email | ext-link | uri | inline-supplementary-material | related-article | related-object | hr | bold | fixed-case | italic | monospace | overline | overline-start | overline-end | roman | sans-serif | sc | serif | strike | underline | underline-start | underline-end | ruby | alternatives | inline-graphic | private-char | chem-struct | inline-formula | tex-math | mml:math | abbrev | index-term | index-term-range-end | milestone-end | milestone-start | named-content | styled-content | fn | target | xref | sub | sup | x | disp-formula | disp-formula-group | chem-struct-wrap | array | code | graphic | media | preformat)*

Description

Any combination of:

This element may be contained in:

Example 1

A definition list (two-part list):
    ...
<glossary>
<def-list>
<title>ABBREVIATIONS</title>
<term-head>Abbreviation</term-head>
<def-head>Expansion</def-head>
<def-item><term id="G1">PAP I</term>
<def><p>poly(A)polymerase I</p></def>
</def-item>
<def-item><term id="G2">PNPase</term>
<def><p>polynucleotide phosphorylase</p></def>
</def-item>
<def-item>...</def-item>
...</def-list>
</glossary>
...   

Example 2

Back of Book Index with nested index terms and links into the text:
    ...
 <book-back>
  <index>
   <index-title-group>
    <title>Index</title>
   </index-title-group>
   ...
   <index-div>
    <index-title-group>
     <title>I</title>
    </index-title-group>
    ...
    <index-entry>
     <term>Interstate commerce</term>
     <x>:</x>
     ...
     <index-entry>
      <term>State powers, taxation and regulation</term>
      <nav-pointer-group>
       <nav-pointer rid="idx1-1" nav-pointer-type="start-of-range"/>&ndash;
       <nav-pointer rid="idx1-2" nav-pointer-type="end-of-range"/>
      </nav-pointer-group>
      <index-entry>
       <term>Balancing test, modern standard</term>
       <nav-pointer-group> 
        <nav-pointer rid="idx2-1" nav-pointer-type="start-of-range"/>&ndash;
        <nav-pointer rid="idx2-2" nav-pointer-type="end-of-range"/> 
       </nav-pointer-group>
      </index-entry>
      <index-entry>
       <term>Regulation of commerce</term>
       <nav-pointer-group> 
       <nav-pointer rid="idx6-1" nav-pointer-type="start-of-range"/>&ndash;
        <nav-pointer rid="idx6-2" nav-pointer-type="end-of-range"/>, 
        <nav-pointer rid="idx7-1" nav-pointer-type="start-of-range"/>&ndash;
        <nav-pointer rid="idx7-2" nav-pointer-type="end-of-range"/>, 
        <nav-pointer rid="idx8-1" nav-pointer-type="start-of-range"/>&ndash;
        <nav-pointer rid="idx8-2" nav-pointer-type="end-of-range"/> 
       </nav-pointer-group>
      </index-entry>
      <index-entry>
       <term>Taxation of commerce</term>
       <nav-pointer-group> 
        <nav-pointer rid="idx10-1" nav-pointer-type="start-of-range"/>&ndash;
        <nav-pointer rid="idx10-2" nav-pointer-type="end-of-range"/>, 
        <nav-pointer rid="idx11-1" nav-pointer-type="start-of-range"/>&ndash; 
        <nav-pointer rid="idx11-2" nav-pointer-type="end-of-range"/> 
       </nav-pointer-group>
       <index-entry>
        <term>Apportionment</term>
        <nav-pointer-group> 
         <nav-pointer rid="idx12" nav-pointer-type="point"/>, 
         <nav-pointer rid="idx13-1" nav-pointer-type="start-of-range"/>&ndash; 
         <nav-pointer rid="idx13-2" nav-pointer-type="end-of-range"/> 
        </nav-pointer-group>
       </index-entry>
       <index-entry>
        <term>Benefit relationship</term>
        <nav-pointer rid="idx14" nav-pointer-type="point"/>
       </index-entry>
      </index-entry>
     </index-entry>
    </index-entry>
    <index-entry>
     <term>Interstate compacts</term>
     <x>.</x>
     <see-entry>States, Agreements with other States</see-entry>
     <x>.</x>
    </index-entry>
    ...   </index-div>
   ...  </index>
 </book-back>
 ...   
Back of Book Index with nested index terms and print page numbers:
    ...
 <book-back>
  <index>
   <index-title-group>
    <title>Index</title>
   </index-title-group>
   ...
   <index-div>
    <index-title-group>
     <title>I</title>
    </index-title-group>
    ...
    <index-entry>
     <term>Interstate commerce</term>
     <x>:</x>
     ...
     <index-entry>
      <term>State powers, taxation and regulation</term>
      <nav-pointer-group> 
       <nav-pointer rid="idx1-1" nav-pointer-type="start-of-range">209</nav-pointer>&ndash;
       <nav-pointer rid="idx1-2" nav-pointer-type="end-of-range">240</nav-pointer>
      </nav-pointer-group>
      <index-entry>
       <term>Balancing test, modern standard</term>
       <nav-pointer-group> 
        <nav-pointer rid="idx2-1" nav-pointer-type="start-of-range">233</nav-pointer>&ndash;
        <nav-pointer rid="idx2-2" nav-pointer-type="end-of-range">234</nav-pointer>
       </nav-pointer-group>
      </index-entry>
      <index-entry>
       <term>Regulation of commerce</term>
       <nav-pointer-group> 
        <nav-pointer rid="idx6-1" nav-pointer-type="start-of-range">220</nav-pointer>&ndash;
        <nav-pointer rid="idx6-2" nav-pointer-type="end-of-range">221</nav-pointer>, 
        <nav-pointer rid="idx7-1" nav-pointer-type="start-of-range">224</nav-pointer>&ndash;
        <nav-pointer rid="idx7-2" nav-pointer-type="end-of-range">227</nav-pointer>, 
        <nav-pointer rid="idx8-1" nav-pointer-type="start-of-range">233</nav-pointer>&ndash;
        <nav-pointer rid="idx8-2" nav-pointer-type="end-of-range">240</nav-pointer> 
       </nav-pointer-group>
      </index-entry>
      <index-entry>
       <term>Taxation of commerce</term>
       <nav-pointer-group>
        <nav-pointer rid="idx10-1" nav-pointer-type="start-of-range">220</nav-pointer>&ndash;
        <nav-pointer rid="idx10-2" nav-pointer-type="end-of-range">223</nav-pointer>, 
        <nav-pointer rid="idx11-1" nav-pointer-type="start-of-range">227</nav-pointer>&ndash;
        <nav-pointer rid="idx11-2" nav-pointer-type="end-of-range">233</nav-pointer> 
       </nav-pointer-group>
       <index-entry>
        <term>Apportionment</term>
        <nav-pointer-group> 
         <nav-pointer rid="idx12" nav-pointer-type="point">223</nav-pointer>,
         <nav-pointer rid="idx13-1" nav-pointer-type="start-of-range">231</nav-pointer>&ndash;
         <nav-pointer rid="idx13-2" nav-pointer-type="end-of-range">232</nav-pointer> 
        </nav-pointer-group>
       </index-entry>
       <index-entry>
        <term>Benefit relationship</term>
        <nav-pointer rid="idx14" nav-pointer-type="point">233</nav-pointer>
       </index-entry>
      </index-entry>
     </index-entry>
    </index-entry>
    <index-entry>
     <term>Interstate compacts</term>
     <x>.</x>
     <see-entry>States, Agreements with other States</see-entry>
     <x>.</x>
    </index-entry>
    ...   </index-div>
   ...  </index>
 </book-back>
 ...   

Example 3

As part of an index term inside narrative text:
    ... 
<p>However, the First Amendment does not bar the 
issuance or execution of a warrant to search a newsroom
<index-term><term>Newspapers</term><see-also>Speech 
and press</see-also></index-term> to obtain photographs 
of demonstrators who had injured several policemen, 
although the Court appeared to suggest ...</p>
...