Word A Day

Hermetic is an adjective, and it is used to described something made airtight by fusion or sealing. It can also be used more broadly to indicate anything isolated from external factors. The adverb is hermetically.
 
Maim means to cripple someone. It can also be used generally, where it means to damage something, making it defective.
 
A paroxysm is a sudden outburst of something, a violent emotion. It can also refer to the exacerbation of a disease.
 
pollution
Presence of matter (gas, liquid, solid) or energy (heat, noise, radiation) whose nature, location, or quantity directly or indirectly alters characteristics or processes of any part of the environment, and causes (or has the potential to cause) damage to the condition, health, safety, or welfare of animals, humans, plants, or property.
 
Term of the Day
non profit organization (NPO)
Associations, charities, cooperatives, and other voluntary organizations formed to further cultural, educational, religious, professional, or public service objectives. Their startup funding is provided by their members, trustees, or others who do not expect repayment, and who do not share in the organization's profits or losses which are retained or absorbed. Approved, incorporated, or registered NPOs are usually granted tax exemptions, and contributions to them are often tax deductible. Most non governmental organizations (NGOs) are NPOs. Also called not for profit organization.
 
fixed income investment
Money invested in bonds, certificates of deposit, preferred stock (preference shares), etc., which regularly generate a fixed amount of interest income. Such investments are preferable during periods of low inflation, but their worth is eroded during periods of high inflation. Also called fixed interest investment.
 
information technology (IT)
Set of tools, processes, and methodologies (such as coding/programming, data communications, data conversion, storage and retrieval, systems analysis and design, systems control) and associated equipment employed to collect, process, and present information. In broad terms, IT also includes office automation, multimedia, and telecommunications.
 
options premium
Amount the option buyer pays and the option seller receives for granting the specified rights for the specified period under the option. Option price market price of an option contract depending on factors such as its intrinsic value, time remaining before its expiration, and fluctuations in the value of the underlying asset.
 
private equity
Money invested in firms which have not 'gone public' and therefore are not listed on any stock exchange. Private equity is highly illiquid because sellers of private stocks (called private securities) must first locate willing buyers. Investors in private equity are generally compensated when: (1) the firm goes public, (2) it is sold or merges with another firm, or (3) it is recapitalized .
 
marshalling of assets
Legal rule that directs the claims of creditors of an insolvent debtor to achieve a fair distribution of debtor's assets among them. For example (between two creditors), if one has recourse to one source of funds and the other has recourse to two such sources, the funds will be marshaled by the court so that the claims of both creditors are satisfied in the most equitable manner.

marshalling of assets is in the Banking, Commerce, Credit, & Finance, Corporate, Commercial, & General Law and Disaster Planning & Risk Management subjects.
 
operating activities
<p>An activity that directly affects an organization's cash inflows and outflows, and determine its net income.</p> <p>Cash inflows result from sales of goods or services, sale of shares, and from income earned on investments. Cash outflows result from equipment and inventory purchases, interest and principal payments on loans, salaries, dividends, and various other costs and expenses.</p>

operating activities is in the Accounting & Auditing and Banking, Commerce, Credit, & Finance subjects.

operating activities appears in the definitions of the following terms: cash inflow, indirect method cash flow statement, cash outflow, cash flows from operating activities, and operating cash flow to sales ratio.
 
key performance indicators (KPI)
Key business statistics such as number of new orders, cash collection efficiency, and return on investment (ROI), which measure a firm's performance in critical areas. KPIs show the progress (or lack of it) toward realizing the firm's objectives or strategic plans by monitoring activities which (if not properly performed) would likely cause severe losses or outright failure.

key performance indicators (KPI) is in the Accounting & Auditing, Banking, Commerce, Credit, & Finance and Planning & Scheduling subjects.
 
brand development index (BDI)
Percentage of a brand's sales in a particular area in relation to the percentage of the country's population in that area. If a brand has 10 percent of sales, for example, in an area where the 20 percent of country's people live then its BDI in that area is 50 (10 x 100 %u00F7 20). BDI indicates where significant groups of a brand's customers live and helps direct marketing efforts.

brand development index (BDI) is in the Advertising, Marketing, & Sales subject.

brand development index (BDI) appears in the definitions of the following terms: category development index (CDI), brand development, and brand potential index (BPI).
 
economic growth
<p>Increase in a country's productive capacity, as measured by comparing gross national product (GNP) in a year with the GNP in the previous year.</p> <p>Increase in the capital stock, advances in technology, and improvement in the quality and level of literacy are considered to be the principal causes of economic growth. In recent years, the idea of sustainable development has brought in additional factors such as environmentally sound processes that must be taken into account in growing an economy.</p>

economic growth is in the Economics, Politics, & Society and Environment & Pollution Control subjects.

economic growth appears in the definitions of the following terms: Global Information Infrastructure (GII), core durable goods orders, fiscal stimulus, discretionary income, and Easy Credit.
 
memorandum of understanding (MOU)
<p>A document that expresses mutual accord on an issue between two or more parties.</p> <p>Memoranda of understanding are generally recognized as binding, even if no legal claim could be based on the rights and obligations laid down in them. To be legally operative, a memorandum of understanding must (1) identify the contracting parties, (2) spell out the subject matter of the agreement and its objectives, (3) summarize the essential terms of the agreement, and (4) must be signed by the contracting parties. Also called letter of intent.</p>

memorandum of understanding (MOU) is in the Agreements & Contracts and Corporate, Commercial, & General Law subjects.

memorandum of understanding (MOU) appears in the definitions of the following terms: memorandum of agreement, international agreement, and letter of intent (LOI).
 
creditor
<p>A party to whom money is owed.</p> <p>Common classifications of a creditor include (1) Secured: who has a legal right to take a specific property of the borrower and sell it in case of a default. (2) Unsecured: who does not have any such right. (3) Preferential or senior: who takes precedence over other creditors in laying claim to a bankrupt borrower's property. (4) Junior: whose claim is addressed after satisfying the claims of preferential or senior creditors.</p>

creditor is in the Accounting & Auditing and Banking, Commerce, Credit, & Finance subjects.

creditor appears in the definitions of the following terms: IOU, deed of inspectorship, official receiver, common stock, and marshalling of assets.
 
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