TERMIUM Plus®
From: Translation Bureau
On social media
Consult the Government of Canada’s terminology data bank.
X-HEIGHT [5 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2017-05-11
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Typography
- Operating Systems (Software)
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- small capital
1, record 1, English, small%20capital
correct
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
- small cap 2, record 1, English, small%20cap
correct
- small capital letter 3, record 1, English, small%20capital%20letter
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Capital letter that is smaller than regular capital, and whose type face is sometimes the same as the lower case; used for subtitles, marginal notes, subheads, etc. 4, record 1, English, - small%20capital
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Small capitals, or small caps, are special capital letters that have been designed to roughly match the x-height of a typeface. Often more visually pleasing when setting lines of text in capital letters, small caps are also used when setting acronyms, initials or other abbreviations(such as MADD, CIA, NBA, A. M. or P. M). 5, record 1, English, - small%20capital
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Indicated in manuscripts and proofs by two lines underneath the letters concerned. 4, record 1, English, - small%20capital
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 2 OBS
small capital; small cap; small capital letter: terms commonly used in the plural (small capitals; small caps; small capital letters). 3, record 1, English, - small%20capital
Record 1, Key term(s)
- small capitals
- small caps
- small capital letters
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Typographie (Caractères)
- Systèmes d'exploitation (Logiciels)
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- petite capitale
1, record 1, French, petite%20capitale
correct, feminine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
- petite majuscule 2, record 1, French, petite%20majuscule
correct, feminine noun
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Majuscule dont l'œil ne dépasse pas la hauteur des lettres bas de casse. 3, record 1, French, - petite%20capitale
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Les petites majuscules sont plus petites que les lettres majuscules régulières. 4, record 1, French, - petite%20capitale
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 2 OBS
petite capitale; petite majuscule : termes couramment utilisés au pluriel (petites capitales; petites majuscules). 5, record 1, French, - petite%20capitale
Record 1, Key term(s)
- petites majuscules
- petites capitales
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Tipografía (Caracteres)
- Sistemas operativos (Soporte lógico)
Record 1, Main entry term, Spanish
- mayúscula pequeña
1, record 1, Spanish, may%C3%BAscula%20peque%C3%B1a
feminine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 1, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Letra mayúscula en el mismo estilo que la letra mayúscula normal en un tipo de letra, pero que es aproximadamente del mismo tamaño que la letra minúscula. 1, record 1, Spanish, - may%C3%BAscula%20peque%C3%B1a
Record 2 - internal organization data 1998-08-20
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Typography
- Information Processing (Informatics)
- Computer Graphics
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- ascender
1, record 2, English, ascender
correct
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
The part of a lower case letter which extends above the x-height or main body of the typeface in letters such as b, t, d and l. 2, record 2, English, - ascender
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Typographie (Caractères)
- Traitement de l'information (Informatique)
- Infographie
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- ascendante
1, record 2, French, ascendante
correct, feminine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
- jambage ascendant 2, record 2, French, jambage%20ascendant
correct, masculine noun
- hampe supérieure 1, record 2, French, hampe%20sup%C3%A9rieure
correct, feminine noun
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Partie du caractère qui se trouve au-dessus du corps de la minuscule sur des lettres comme b, t, d et l. 1, record 2, French, - ascendante
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Tipografía (Caracteres)
- Tratamiento de la información (Informática)
- Gráficos de computadora
Record 2, Main entry term, Spanish
- signo diacrítico superior
1, record 2, Spanish, signo%20diacr%C3%ADtico%20superior
correct, masculine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 2, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
acento, punto, diéresis. 1, record 2, Spanish, - signo%20diacr%C3%ADtico%20superior
Record 3 - internal organization data 1993-03-30
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Typography
- Typesetting and Imagesetting
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- Helvetica
1, record 3, English, Helvetica
correct
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
Record 3, Synonyms, English
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
The design of a specific typeface may vary from one manufacturer to another.... For this reason, 10-point Helvetica on one system may be quite different form 10-point Helvetica on another, not only in design, but also in x-height and number of characters per pica. Just as the design of a typeface may differ, so too may the name : Helvetica is also called Claro, Helios, Geneva, or Vega, depending on the manufacturer. 1, record 3, English, - Helvetica
Record 3, Key term(s)
- Claro
- Helios
- Geneva
- Vega
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Typographie (Caractères)
- Composition (Imprimerie)
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- Helvetica 1, record 3, French, Helvetica
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
Record 3, Synonyms, French
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Record 4 - internal organization data 1986-07-29
Record 4, English
Record 4, Subject field(s)
- Graphic Arts and Printing
- Typesetting and Imagesetting
- Typography
Record 4, Main entry term, English
- unit
1, record 4, English, unit
correct
Record 4, Abbreviations, English
Record 4, Synonyms, English
Record 4, Textual support, English
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 DEF
An arbitrary measurement which, for the purposes of FIP, is based on the division of the x-height into 50 equal portions. 2, record 4, English, - unit
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 OBS
FIP: Federal Identity Program. 3, record 4, English, - unit
Record 4, French
Record 4, Domaine(s)
- Imprimerie et arts graphiques
- Composition (Imprimerie)
- Typographie (Caractères)
Record 4, Main entry term, French
- unité
1, record 4, French, unit%C3%A9
correct, feminine noun
Record 4, Abbreviations, French
Record 4, Synonyms, French
Record 4, Textual support, French
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Mesure arbitraire fondée, pour les besoins du PCIM, sur la division de la hauteur x en 50 parties égales. 2, record 4, French, - unit%C3%A9
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 OBS
PCIM : Programme de coordination de l'image de marque 3, record 4, French, - unit%C3%A9
Record 4, Spanish
Record 4, Textual support, Spanish
Record 5 - internal organization data 1986-07-29
Record 5, English
Record 5, Subject field(s)
- Signage
Record 5, Main entry term, English
- "x"
1, record 5, English, %5C%22x%5C%22
correct
Record 5, Abbreviations, English
Record 5, Synonyms, English
Record 5, Textual support, English
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 DEF
In signage, a unit of measurement which is equal to the square of the x-height of the character size. 1, record 5, English, - %5C%22x%5C%22
Record 5, French
Record 5, Domaine(s)
- Signalisation (panneaux)
Record 5, Main entry term, French
- "x"
1, record 5, French, %5C%22x%5C%22
correct
Record 5, Abbreviations, French
Record 5, Synonyms, French
Record 5, Textual support, French
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 DEF
En signalisation, unité de mesure égale au carré de la hauteur "x" du corps des caractères. 1, record 5, French, - %5C%22x%5C%22
Record 5, Spanish
Record 5, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2026
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
GCtranslate (available on the Government of Canada network only)
Use this artificial intelligence prototype to translate Government of Canada content up to and including Protected B. Available to employees of selected departments and agencies only.
Writing tools
The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies
Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified: