Definition
A reference section in an FAA handbook that lists the specialized vocabulary used in that chapter or publication, along with the meaning each word carries in that aviation context.
Plain English
A short glossary that tells you what specific words mean in this part of the book, so you read them the way the FAA intends.
Context Anchor
Seen as a chapter or section heading in FAA handbooks before the material uses words that need a clear, shared meaning.
Derivation
Term comes from a Latin word meaning a boundary or limit. Definition comes from a Latin word meaning to set limits or make something definite. Together, they point to the same idea: setting the exact meaning of a word so it is not left vague.
Why Pilots Care
Aviation uses everyday words with very specific technical meanings. Reading a chapter without first checking its terms and definitions is a common cause of confusion later in the material.
Intuition Check
Do not assume every familiar word in a Terms and Definitions section has only its everyday meaning. In FAA training material, the definition tells you the exact meaning intended for that flying context.
Example Sentence 1
Before reading the chapter on transition to complex airplanes, the student reviewed the Terms and Definitions section so the new vocabulary would be clear.
Example Sentence 2
Clearing every entry in Terms and Definitions removed confusion before the next flight lesson.