The following is a list of common DNS (Domain Name System) terms:

Name server (or nameserver): Nameserver is an important part of DNS (Domain Name System) that handle and perform the translation of human-readable domain names to their numeric computer-understandable IP address. Name servers are usually servers owned by the company where your domain has been registered. Again WHOIS lookup tools can be used to view domain DNS servers. Domains names are most often provided with two DNS servers. 

For example, here at Solelyweb we provide name servers for all domains registered with us and their values are: 
ns1.solelyweb.com 
ns2.solelyweb.com

However, if you have registered your domain with another registrar you can use their nameservers or ours provided you have a Hosting account with all your website contents.

DNS File: A zone file is simply a file that stores your domain’s DNS settings. It consists of various “records” that define addresses for the servers hosting your website and other resources – such as email. Depending on the Solelyweb service you’re using, you can use the Zone Editor in the cPanel to make changes to the zone file DNS records.

A Record: Stands for Address Record and it is used to point a domain name to a particular server IP address where websites files and folders are held. For example, to access the solelyweb website you enter www.solelyweb.com. Stored within our name server is an A record that points to the IP address 50.28.105.70. This means that a request from your browser to www.solelyweb.com is directed to the server with IP address 50.28.105.70 in order to display website contents. Managing DNS A records in cPanel

CNAME: CNAME is a DNS record which is used to specify a domain or a subdomain name as an alias or as a parked domain for another domain. Managing DNS CNAME in cPanel

MX Records: The role of MX (Mail Exchanger) records is to point your domain name email to an email provider such as Microsoft Exchange Server. MX records must point to a domain and never point directly to an IP address. Managing DNS MX records in cPanel

SRV Records: An SRV record is used to specify the location with a hostname and a port. An SRV (Service) record points one domain to another domain name using a specific destination port. Managing DNS SRV records in cPanel

TXT Records: Common uses for TXT records are email security features such as Sender Policy Framework (SPF), DomainKeys (DK), and DomainKeys Identified E-mail (DKIM). The SPF system allows you to specify servers and IP addresses that are authorized to send mail from your domain(s). This feature works to prevent outgoing spam messages. Whereas, the DKIM is a means of verifying incoming email. It ensures that incoming messages are unmodified and are from the sender from whom they claim to be. This feature works to prevent incoming spam messages. Managing DNS TXT records in cPanel and Adding SPF in cPanel