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The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science

OSAC Lexicon

The OSAC Lexicon is a compendium of forensic science terms and definitions. This terminology tool was created to help bring consistency and understanding to the way terms are used by the various forensic science. Use of the OSAC Lexicon does not replace the need to reference the original published source.

The terms and definitions in the OSAC Lexicon come from the published literature, including documentary standards and technical reports. It is continually updated with the latest work from OSAC units, as well as terms from newly published documentary standards and standards elevated to the OSAC Registry.

Gradually terms are evaluated and harmonized by the OSAC to a single term. This process results in an OSAC Preferred Term. An OSAC Preferred Term is a term, along with its definition, that has undergone review and evaluation by the FSSB Terminology Task Group and has been approved by the FSSB. The FSSB recommends that subcommittees use OSAC Preferred Terms when drafting standards.

The OSAC Lexicon should be the primary resource for terminology and used when drafting and editing forensic science standards and other OSAC work products. 

Displaying 3301 - 3350 of 3629
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Searches term, definition, and source for any of these keywords.
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taxonomic identification

Analyses to establish the classification of an organism to family, genus, species, etc. These analyses are based on class characters which are diagnostic for the taxonomic level in question.

Committee
Wildlife Forensic Biology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 111 Standard for Training in Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Analysis for Taxonomic Identification . AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2020. Source link
Term link
taxonomic identification

Analysis to establish the classification of an organism to family, genus, species, etc. This analysis is based on class characters diagnostic for the taxonomic level in question.

Committee
Wildlife Forensic Biology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 106 Wildlife Forensics—Protein Serology Method for Taxonomic Identification. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2020. Source link
Term link
taxonomic identifications

Analyses used to establish the classification of an organism to family, genus, species, etc. These analyses are based on characters (e.g. morphological or genetic) diagnostic for the taxonomic level in question.

Committee
Wildlife Forensic Biology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 048 Wildlife Forensic DNA Standard Procedures. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2019. Source link
Term link
Taxonomy

The science of identifying and naming species with the intent of arranging them into a classification.

Committee
Wildlife Forensic Biology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 028 Wildlife Forensics Morphology Standards. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2019. Source link
Term link
taxonomy

A branch of science concerned with classification of organisms, including systematics and nomenclature.

Committee
Wildlife Forensic Biology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 111 Standard for Training in Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Analysis for Taxonomic Identification . AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2020. Source link
Term link
Tears
Fractures that have occurred in footwear outsoles or tire treads that reflect irregular edges. Tears are randomly acquired characteristics.
Committee
Footwear & Tire
Date Added to Lexicon
Technical Report/Other Source (Author, Title of report. Publisher, Year.)
ASB TR 097, Terminology Used for Forensic Footwear and Tire Evidence. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2019. Source link
Term link
Technical Designee

The designated individual in the laboratory who has technical responsibility.

Committee
Human Forensic Biology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 110 Standards for Training in Forensic Serological Methods. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2020. Source link
Term link
Technical Designee

The designated individual in the laboratory who has technical responsibility.

Committee
Human Forensic Biology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 077 Standard for the Developmental and Internal Validation of Forensic Serological Methods. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2020. Source link
Term link
Technical Fiber
a bundle of natural fibers (for example, hemp, jute, and sisal) composed of individual elongated cells that can be physically or chemically separated and examined microscopically for identifying characteristics.
Committee
Trace Materials
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025. Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
Term link
Technical Leader

An employee who is accountable for the technical operations of the laboratory and who is authorized to initiate, suspend, and resume laboratory operations.

Committee
Human Forensic Biology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 123 Standard for Routine Internal Evaluation of a Laboratory’s DNA Interpretation and Comparison Protocol. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2024. Source link
Term link
Technical Procedure

Written documentation maintained by the laboratory including laboratory policies, technical protocols and methods for specific forensic analyses (see also standard operating procedure).

Committee
Wildlife Forensic Biology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 019 Wildlife Forensics General Standards. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2019. Source link
Term link
technical review

evaluation of all supporting records from the examination and the report, if prepared, to evaluate observations and assess whether there is an appropriate and sufficient basis for any opinions

Committee
Forensic Toxicology
Date Added to Lexicon
Technical Report/Other Source (Author, Title of report. Publisher, Year.)
ASB Technical Report 208, Forensic Toxicology: Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2025. Source link
Term link
technical review

An evaluation of reports, notes, data, and other documents to ensure there is an appropriate and sufficient basis for the scientific conclusions.

Committee
Human Forensic Biology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ASB Standard 080 Standard for Training in Forensic DNA Reporting and Review. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2026. Source link
Term link
Technical Review
OSAC Preferred

DEPRECATED: peer review
evaluation of all supporting records (3.49) from the examination (3.18) and the report (3.55), if prepared, to evaluate observations (3.36) and assess whether there is an appropriate and sufficient basis for any opinions (3.37). Note 1 to entry: Technical review can also be applicable to observations and opinions that are communicated other than by way of report (see ISO 21043-5).

Numbers in the parenthesis refers to additional terms in the standard.

Also referenced in ANSI/ASB 019 Wildlife Forensics General Standards, ANSI/ASB Technical Report 025, Crime Scene/Death Investigation - Dogs and Sensors - Terms and Definitions, ANSI/ASB 063 Implementation of 3D Technologies in Forensic Firearm and Toolmark Comparison Laboratories, ANSI/ASB 142-22 Best Practice Recommendations for the Resolution of Conflicts in Friction Ridge Examination, ANSI/ASTM E3392-24 Standard Guide for Forensic Physical Fit Examination, ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, ANSI/ASB Standard 099 Standard for Footwear/Tire Examination Proficiency Testing Program, ANSI/ASB 168 Standard for Testimony Monitoring in Friction Ridge Examination, ANSI/ASB 143 Standard for Technical Review in Friction Ridge Examination

Committee
FSSB
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ISO 21043-1:2025 Forensic sciences — Part 1: Vocabulary. International Organization for Standardization BIBC II, Chemin de Blandonnet 8, CP 401, 1214 Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland, 2025. Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ISO, copyright International Organization for Standardization, 1214 Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland. A copy of the complete standard may be purchased from ISO, https://www.iso.org/store.html
Term link
Technical Reviewer

An individual with the knowledge/expertise to conduct the technical review to determine if theappropriate examinations have been performed, support the results/conclusions of thedevelopment and/or deployment validations, and that the reported results are consistent with therecorded data and are within the scope of testing.

Committee
Firearms & Toolmarks
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 063 Implementation of 3D Technologies in Forensic Firearm and Toolmark Comparison Laboratories. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2021. Source link
Term link
technical visit

Travel for the purpose of obtaining information, knowledge, or training, including interaction with or demonstration by pertinent manufacturers, businesses, and laboratories. (SWGDOC G02)

Committee
Forensic Document Examination
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ASB Technical Report 071 Forensic Document Examination: Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2025. Source link
Term link
Technology

Used to describe the type of forensic DNA analysis performed in the laboratory, such as SNP, STR, YSTR, or mitochondrial DNA.

Committee
Human Forensic Biology
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 022 Standard for Forensic DNA Analysis Training Programs. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2019. Source link
Term link
Telogen
the resting phase of the hair follicle in the hair growth cycle. Discussion—During this phase, the hair has stopped growing and the root becomes keratinized and bulbous (club-like) in shape.
Committee
Trace Materials
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025. Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
Term link
Temperament

The general consistence with which the animal behaves. Broad classes of temperament appear to be heritable. OutgoingBehavior of the canine characterized by seeking human interaction. StableBehavior of the canine that is consistent over time, place and environmental conditions.

Committee
Dogs & Sensors
Date Added to Lexicon
Technical Report/Other Source (Author, Title of report. Publisher, Year.)
ANSI/Academy Standards Board (ASB), Crime Scene/Death Investigation - Dogs and Sensors - Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2017. Source link
Term link
Temperature

The degree of sensible heat of a body as measured by a thermometer or similar instrument.

Committee
Fire & Explosion Investigation
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
NFPA 921:2021 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA, 2021. Source link
Term link
Template
in facial identification, a set of biometric measurement data prepared by a facial recognition (FR) system from a facial image.
Committee
Facial & Iris Identification
Digital Evidence
Video/Imaging Technology & Analysis
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025. Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
Term link
Tenacity

The quality of a canine to persist at a task regardless of the environmental distractions or task difficulty.

Committee
Dogs & Sensors
Date Added to Lexicon
Technical Report/Other Source (Author, Title of report. Publisher, Year.)
ANSI/Academy Standards Board (ASB), Crime Scene/Death Investigation - Dogs and Sensors - Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2017. Source link
Term link
terminal ballistics

Studies the effect of a projectile’s impact with a target. [AFTE Glossary]

Committee
Crime Scene Investigation & Reconstruction
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB Standard 196 Standard for the Documentation and Processing of Shooting Scenes. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2026. Source link
Term link
terminal stroke

The final stroke of a character or word.

Committee
Forensic Document Examination
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ASB Technical Report 071 Forensic Document Examination: Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2025. Source link
Term link
Terms Specific to Firearms

Other terms specific to firearms, such as rifle, shotgun, pistol, revolver, firearm, single action, double action, sear, and cock are described in Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners, Glossary [7] and Glossary-SAAMI [1]23].

Committee
Firearms & Toolmarks
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 107 Best Practice Recommendation for Measuring Trigger Pull of a Firearm and Estimating Its Uncertainty. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2022. Source link
Term link
Terpene
an unsaturated hydrocarbon occurring in most essential oils and oleoresins of plants.
Committee
Ignitable Liquids, Explosives & Gunshot Residue
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025. Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
Term link
Test
determination of one or more characteristics according to a procedure.
Committee
Interdisciplinary
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025. Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
Term link
Test Fire

To discharge a firearm in a laboratory or controlled setting in order to obtain representative bulletsand cartridge cases for comparison or analysis, or to determine functionality of the firearm.

Committee
Firearms & Toolmarks
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 093 Standard Test Method for the Forensic Examination and Testing of Firearms. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2020. Source link
Term link
Test Impression
An impression made from a footwear or tire used as an aid for comparison purposes.
Committee
Footwear & Tire
Date Added to Lexicon
Technical Report/Other Source (Author, Title of report. Publisher, Year.)
ASB TR 097, Terminology Used for Forensic Footwear and Tire Evidence. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2019. Source link
Term link
Test Method
a definitive procedure that produces a test result.
Committee
Interdisciplinary
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025. Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
Term link
Test Report

A term intended to encompass any report containing the description of items submitted to a laboratory, as well as any results of testing and examinations that may have occurred.

Committee
Firearms & Toolmarks
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASB 096 Standard Method for the Examination and Documentation of Ammunition and Ammunition Components. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2022. Source link
Term link
testimony

statement which communicates information in a judicial setting

Note 1 to entry: Oral testimony can be accompanied by documents including written reports  and other materials.

Committee
Interdisciplinary
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ISO 21043-1:2025 Forensic sciences — Part 1: Vocabulary. International Organization for Standardization BIBC II, Chemin de Blandonnet 8, CP 401, 1214 Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland, 2025. Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ISO, copyright International Organization for Standardization, 1214 Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland. A copy of the complete standard may be purchased from ISO, https://www.iso.org/store.html
Term link
Testing

determination of one or more characteristics of an object of conformity assessment (4.2), according to a procedure (5.2)

Note 1 to entry: The procedure can be intended to control variables within testing as a contribution to the accuracy or reliability of the results.
Note 2 to entry: The results of testing can be expressed in terms of specified units or objective comparison with agreed references.
Note 3 to entry: The output of testing can include comments (e.g., opinions and interpretations) about the test results and fulfillment of specified requirements.
Note 4 to entry: Additional information on the concepts of testing (6.2) and inspection (6.3) is given in A.3.4.

Committee
Interdisciplinary
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ISO/IEC 17000:2020 Conformity assessment -- Vocabulary and general principles. International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission, Chemin de Blandonnet 8, CP 401, 1214 Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland, 2020. Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ISO, copyright International Organization for Standardization, 1214 Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland. A copy of the complete standard may be purchased from ISO, https://www.iso.org/store.html
Term link
Texture
A rough surface or shallow design added to surfaces of a mold through the process of chemical etching or hand struck stippling that is transferred to the footwear during the molding process. Texture is unique to specific molds.
Committee
Footwear & Tire
Date Added to Lexicon
Technical Report/Other Source (Author, Title of report. Publisher, Year.)
ASB TR 097, Terminology Used for Forensic Footwear and Tire Evidence. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, 2019. Source link
Term link
Thermal Column

See plume

Committee
Fire & Explosion Investigation
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
NFPA 921:2021 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA, 2021. Source link
Term link
Thermal Expansion

The increase in length, volume, or surface area of a body with rise in temperature.

Committee
Fire & Explosion Investigation
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
NFPA 921:2021 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA, 2021. Source link
Term link
thermal imaging transfer ribbon

Plastic film or other material, upon which a dye or pigmented coating is applied; imaging results when a thermal printhead transfers the coating onto a suitable substrate or receptor media. (ASTM F1623)

Committee
Forensic Document Examination
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ASB Technical Report 071 Forensic Document Examination: Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2025. Source link
Term link
thermal impulse

Ink jet technology where the rapid expansion of a bubble in the ink created by localized electrical heating expels the droplets from the ink chamber. (SWGDOC E06)

Committee
Forensic Document Examination
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ASB Technical Report 071 Forensic Document Examination: Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2025. Source link
Term link
Thermal Inertia

The properties of a material that characterize its rate of surface temperature rise when exposed to heat; related to the product of the material's thermal conductivity (k), its density (_), and its heat capacity (c).

Committee
Fire & Explosion Investigation
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
NFPA 921:2021 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA, 2021. Source link
Term link
thermal paper printing

A non-impact method in which the image is formed by the action of heat on a treated substrate.

Committee
Forensic Document Examination
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ASB Technical Report 071 Forensic Document Examination: Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2025. Source link
Term link
thermal print head

Mechanism for printing with a temperature-sensitive substance; heat transfer is affected by touching heated pin tips to the material to cause a reaction.

Committee
Forensic Document Examination
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ASB Technical Report 071 Forensic Document Examination: Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2025. Source link
Term link
thermal ribbon

Plastic film or other material, upon which a dye or pigmented coating is applied; imaging results when a thermal printhead transfers the coating onto a suitable substrate or receptor media.

Committee
Forensic Document Examination
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ASB Technical Report 071 Forensic Document Examination: Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2025. Source link
Term link
thermal transfer printing

A non-impact method in which the image is created by the action of a heated print head through a medium coated ribbon. This includes wax transfer, dye sublimation, and thermal fusion methods.

Committee
Forensic Document Examination
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ASB Technical Report 071 Forensic Document Examination: Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2025. Source link
Term link
thermal trauma

A skeletal defect produced by exposure to high temperature or direct contact with flame.

Committee
Forensic Anthropology
Date Added to Lexicon
Technical Report/Other Source (Author, Title of report. Publisher, Year.)
ASB Technical Report 214, Forensic Anthropology: Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2026. Source link
Term link
Thermite
a mixture comprised of a metal oxide and powdered metal that reacts with extremely high temperature and produces molten metal and slag. Discussion—The most common thermite mixture is composed of iron oxide and powdered aluminum.
Committee
Ignitable Liquids, Explosives & Gunshot Residue
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025. Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
Term link
Thermodynamics

The branch of physics that deals with the relationship between heat and other forms of energy.

Committee
Fire & Explosion Investigation
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
NFPA 921:2021 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA, 2021. Source link
Term link
thermography

A two-stage printing method in which a resinous powder adheres to wet ink. After heating, the compound rises to resemble raised or engraved printing.

Committee
Forensic Document Examination
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ASB Technical Report 071 Forensic Document Examination: Terms and Definitions. AAFS Academy Standards Board (ASB), 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 2025. Source link
Term link
Thermometry

The study of the science, methodology, and practice of temperature measurement.

Committee
Fire & Explosion Investigation
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
NFPA 921:2021 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA, 2021. Source link
Term link
Thermoplastic

Plastic materials that soften and melt under exposure to heat and can reach a flowable state.

Committee
Fire & Explosion Investigation
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
NFPA 921:2021 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA, 2021. Source link
Term link
Thermoplastic
a synthetic material that softens or melts at high temperatures.
Committee
Trace Materials
Date Added to Lexicon
Standard Source (Designation Number Title of Standard. Publisher, Place, Year.)
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 2025. Source link
Reprinted, with permission, from ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard is available from ASTM International, https://www.astm.org
Term link
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