Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

search term
     
         An element of a search or query.  A
        search term is the basic building block of a {boolean search}
        or a {weighted search}.  In a search engine a search term is
        typically a word, phrase, or pattern match expression.  For
        example: cosmonaut or "space travel" or astronaut*
     
        In a {database} a term is typically the comparison of a column
        with a constant or with another column.  For example:
        last_name like 'Smith%'
     
        (1999-08-27)