A term is a word used to communicate knowledge unambiguously. Communication cannot occur unless two people are using the same words with the same meanings. Without clear terms, transmission of knowledge cannot occur.
Understanding Technical Vocabulary
Every field of understanding has its own technical vocabulary. It can be identified positively through familiarity with a field, or negatively through unfamiliarity.
Some common words are, confusingly, used technically. In any case, to reach understanding, one must rely on the context of surrounding words that are understood.
How to read a book by Mortimer Jerome Adler, Charles Van Doren