Final answer:
The term describing how close a measurement is to the true value is 'accuracy,' which assesses the systematic errors and the measurement's conformity to an accepted reference value. Precision, however, reflects the consistency among repeated measurements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term used to describe how close a measured number is to the true or correct value is accuracy. Accuracy is a key concept in science and measurement, indicating the degree of conformity of a measurement to an accepted reference value. It is an estimate of the systematic errors in the measurement process, and a lower systematic error corresponds to a higher accuracy.
Precision, on the other hand, refers to the consistency of repeated measurements. If a series of measurements are very close to one another, they are considered precise. Precision indicates the random errors in the measurement process and does not necessarily mean that measurements are accurate or close to the true value.
Therefore, option 1) Accuracy is the correct term that describes how close a measured number is to the true value.