意思是不一样的.
by means of"用,借助于,依靠"；
in terms of相当于in（the）light of"根据,从……方面（说来）"；
例如：The younger person’s attraction to stereos cannot be explained only ____familiarity with technology．
【译文】不能仅从熟悉技术的角度来解释年轻人对立体音响的喜爱.
这里就应该用in terms of.那么in terms of 是不是相当于according to 啊？偶尔可以互换但是不能完全替代。according to -----in a manner that is consistent with (sth) 按照, 依照（某事物）in terms of -------as regards sth; expressedas sth 在某事物方面; 以某说法来表达例如。He often talks about his girlfriend in terms of love. 他经常用充满爱意的语言谈论他的女朋友。这里就不能用according to