in an equation, a term sometimes used to denote the several regular terms in a quadratic, cubic, biquadratic, &c. equation, when the indices of the powers ascend or descend orderly in an arithmetical progression. Thus, \( x^3 + m x^2 + n x = p \) is a cubic equation where no term is wanting, but having all its parodic degrees; the indices of the terms regularly descending thus, 3, 2, 1, 0.