DEFINITION LIST: <DL> and </DL>

A definition list is a list of terms and corresponding definitions. Definition lists are typically formatted with the word or phrase at the left margin with the definition, formatted paragraph style, indented after the term. For example:
<DL>
<DT> Term1 </DT> <DD> This is the deffinition of the first term </DD>
<DT> Term2 </DT> <DD> This is the definition of the second term </DD>
</DL>

would be displayed as:
Term1
This is the definition of the first term
Term2
This is the definition of the second term
If the <DT> term does not fit in the <DT> column (one third of the display area), it may be extended across the page with the <DD> section moved to the next line, or it may be wrapped onto successive lines of the left hand column.

Single occurrences of a <DT> element without a subsequent <DD> element are allowed, and have the same significance as if the <DD> element had been present with no text. The opening list element must be <DL> and must be immediately followed by the first term (<DT>).

The definition list type can take the COMPACT attribute, which suggests that a compact rendering be used, because the list items are small and/or the entire list is large. Unless you provide the COMPACT attribute, the HTML user agent may leave white space between successive <DT>, <DD> pairs.The COMPACT attribute may also reduce the width of the left-hand (<DT>) column.

If using the COMPACT attribute, the opening list element must be <DL COMPACT>, which must be immediately followed by the first <DT> element:

<DL COMPACT>
<DT> Term <DD> This is the first definition incompact format
<DT> Term <DD> This is the second definition incompact format
</DL>

would be displayed as:
Term
This is the first definition in compact format.
Term
This is the second definition in compact format.