odd term

[′äd ‚tərm]

(atomic physics)

A term of an atom or molecule for which the sum of the angular-momentum quantum numbers of all the electrons is odd, so that the states have odd parity; designated by a superscript o or u.

Mentioned in ?

Renner-Teller effect

References in classic literature ?

An inquiry will afford us amusement," [I thought this an odd term, so applied, but said nothing] "and, besides, Le Bon once rendered me a service for which I am not ungrateful.

View in context

The idea is to get the garden ship shape - an odd term to use for horticulture, I admit, but I can think of nothing more appropriate that doesn't involve double meanings.

Born idle? I just have a bad back

Nonetheless, the text is informative and I did come across the odd term I'd not heard before, such as 'yardang' [defined by Wikipedia as 'a wind-abraded ridge found in a desert environment'].

Galaxy: Exploring the Milky Way

Case studies', the category for the last section, is an odd term when the 'case' is excluded.

A ground-breaking study of Shakespeare

It's also a slightly odd term, and can be interpreted in a variety of ways.

Building a better future to us all; Sustainability is a buzzword much bandied around the construction industry. But it's so much more than that, and is becoming increasingly important, says Neil Pountney, MD of Emprima

Racing" may sound like an odd term to describe a tortoise, but gopher tortoises are faster than you might think.

Of Sandhill Cranes and longleaf pines: A world of animals, birds, and plants thrive along America's most diverse estuary

Pentagon spokespeople called their deaths a tragic case of "friendly fire"--an odd term, since it usually refers to soldiers killing their fellow soldiers by accident.

Peruvian No-Fly Zone

The data shows, not surprisingly, that ethnic identity retention (an odd term, incidentally: can one retain something one never had?

Ethnic Identity and Equality: Varieties of Experience in a Canadian City

These are the ones much more likely to fail than those who have the odd term time family holiday.

The Birmingham Post: History or hols?

Green room might sound an odd term but in theatre it has traditionally offered a haven for actors.

Green for go in acting

But "nationwide" and "everywhere" are odd terms to equate when discussing US police militarization.

Militarism Is a Public Safety Crisis

This volume of essays underscores the fact that "literary theory" is one of those odd terms whose connotations are narrower than its denotations.