Android Dictionary Android - Operating System for smartphones and tablets, based on Linux, built by Google, similar to Windows on PC.
AOSP - Short for Android Open Source Project. The open-sourced code from which individuals can build new distributions of Android.
APK - An Android executable file, similar to the .exe file in Windows. Most programs will install with a .apk file.
Baseband - System of a smartphone, that controls the cellular radio systems(GSM, 3G, HSDPA etc).
Bootloader - Controls the booting process, makes sure that you will access User Interface. These programs tell the Android device how to start up, and are critical to its functionality.
Build.prop - A plain text file which contains environmental variables for the system to use during operation. Can be hacked to fake a different model for increased functionality, among many other operations.
BusyBox - Command line bridge, used to give commands to Android system. You will need app to send commands, it will use BusyBox to send the commands.
Brick - A phone, that you paid a lot for and now you can use it as brick, because it doesn't start up.
Cooked - Refers to ROMs which have been modified and optimised by users to offer better performance than a carrier ROM or a release by Microsoft. Cooked ROMs can be found in the wiki pages.
CID - The CID (Carrier ID) of the device is a setting which determines which carrier ROMs should be allowed to run on the device. All bootloaders will only allow a ROM with the correct CID to be flashed onto the device. A device which has been CID unlocked will have SuperCID which allows ANY ROM to be loaded onto the device.
CWM/ClockworkMod Recovery - A specific program, that is used before booting to Android. Allows the user to make full backup of system and install custom ROMs, updates etc.
CM - Short for CyanogenMod. CyanogenMod is an Android build built from the Android Open Source Project, and its builds are usable on multiple different Android Devices.
Dalvik Cache - The collection of program information stored for use by the DALVIK program. This can be cleared from the RECOVERY menu to resolve issues with the Android OS.
Downgrade - A job, that you have to do, when you want to get from newer firmware to older firmware.
Factory Reset - This will remove all user customizations in the Android OS, returning it to a factory state. Note: This will not wipe the Internal SD card.
Fastboot - Command Line Tool to edit Android filesystem. Unlike flashmode, this allows flashing unsigned partition images.
FC - Short for FORCE CLOSE. See FORCE CLOSE.
Flashing - The act of writing code to the Android device. ROMs, MODEMs, KERNELs, and BOOTLOADERs can all be flashed. Independent from, and having nothing to do with, Adobe's Flash product.
Flashmode - Phone mode, where you can freely flash any firmware to your phone via WotanServer or Flashtool.
Force Close - When a program on the Android device becomes unstable, the DALVIK program will force it to terminate to prevent further system instability.
GB/Gingerbread - Android 2.3 version, codename Gingerbread, mostly used shortly as GB.
Kernel - Bridge between hardware and Android, used for hardware information exchange and control hardware parts(CPU etc).
MD5 Checksum - A 32-digit (128-bit) hash number generated by a cryptographic program to ensure that a downloaded file matches the original file. The original file is run through the MD5 generator program, which creates the 32-bit number. This number is checked against the md5 number created with the file the end user receives to ensure file integrity.
Normal Mode - normal state means when device is fully powered on and you can see menu widgets and...
Nandroid Backup - A complete system image backup of the Android device except for the MODEM and KERNEL. Can be accessed from CWM.
OTA/Over The Air - Updating your phone firmware directly from your phone via 3G or WiFi connection.
Overclocking - Setting the processor's clock speed to run faster than its default setting, i.e. 1200 MHz (1.2 GHz) vs 1000 MHz (1.0 GHz).
RAM - Random Access Memory, data storage area, where are currently in use apps and services. It is used, because it has really high data transfer rate compared to other possibilities(SDcard, hard disks etc).
ROM - Read Only Memory, data storage, where the data can only be read by system itself. It includes all data to start the Android. Many developers edit this ROM to change Android interface.
Root(ing) - Process, during which user gets access to Android system partition and files, giving the possibility to edit Android.
RUU Mode - its a flash mode,in some case if hboot damaged device after power goto ruu mode.
S-OFF - (Security OFF) means that the NAND portion of the device is unlocked and can be written to. The default setting for HTC’s devices is S-ON, which means that neither can you access certain areas of the system nor can you guarantee a permanent root. Furthermore, signature check for firmware images is also ensured by the S-ON flag.
SU - "Super user", or root permissions
SuperCID - By CID unlocking your device the value of the CID is changed to 'SuperCID or 11111111'. This allows the flashing of ANY ROM to the device regardless of the carrier.
Taken from XDA-Developers,ME 