diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index e77f61b..45f939b 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ thor/
 | | `sectionate.odin` | `wrap_sections` — splits HTML at `<h2>` into `<section>` wrappers |
 | | `highlight.odin` | Syntax highlighting via tree-sitter. Imports `../treesitter`. |
 | | `heading_ids.odin` | `inject_heading_ids` — adds `id` attributes to `<h1>`-`<h6>` from heading text. Slug-based, deduplicated. |
+| | `deflists.odin` | `convert_deflists` — pre-cmark pass. Scans for definition list patterns (`term\n\n: definition`) and converts to `<dl><dt><dd>` HTML blocks. Terms and definitions rendered through cmark individually for inline markdown. Consecutive pairs grouped into single `<dl>`. |
 | | `toc.odin` | `generate_toc(html, allocator)` — page-level feature (not a pipeline extension). Scans `<h1>`-`<h6>` for IDs (after `inject_heading_ids`), builds nested `<ul>` with `<a href="#id">` links. Called from `load_page` when frontmatter `"toc": true`. Depends on `.HeadingIDs` being enabled. |
 | `mustache/` | See [Mustache engine](#mustache-engine) below | Template engine |
 | `bench/` | `bench.odin` + `templates/` | Standalone template rendering benchmark. Generates 500 posts + 100 comments, renders with indented partials + inheritance + pipes. `--dump <path>` for output validation, positional arg for iteration count (default 250). |
@@ -177,7 +178,7 @@ Config is split into three structs with a clear 5-step initialization flow:
 
 **`Feature` enum** — `Drafts`, `Minify`, `Watch`. Checked with `.Minify in site.features`.
 
-**`markdown.Extension` enum** (in the `markdown` package, not main) — `Emoji`, `Sidenotes`, `Alerts`, `Highlight`, `Sections`, `HeadingIDs`. Default is `md.DEFAULT_EXTENSIONS` (currently `.Emoji, .Sidenotes, .Alerts, .HeadingIDs`). Configurable via:
+**`markdown.Extension` enum** (in the `markdown` package, not main) — `Emoji`, `Sidenotes`, `Alerts`, `Highlight`, `Sections`, `HeadingIDs`, `DefLists`. Default is `md.DEFAULT_EXTENSIONS` (currently `.Emoji, .Sidenotes, .Alerts, .HeadingIDs, .DefLists`). Configurable via:
 - `thor.json`: `"markdown_extensions": { "emoji": true, "highlight": false, ... }`
 - CLI: `-ext:highlight,sections` (enable) / `-no-ext:emoji` (disable). Comma-separated, case-insensitive.
 
@@ -258,6 +259,7 @@ Lives in the `markdown` package. Entry point: `md.process(body, ext, file_path)`
 ```
 raw markdown
   → md.strip_definitions     (if .Sidenotes — pre-cmark)
+  → md.convert_deflists      (if .DefLists — pre-cmark)
   → cmark markdown_to_html   (Unsafe mode for HTML passthrough)
   → md.expand_emoji          (if .Emoji — post-cmark)
   → md.inject_notes          (if .Sidenotes — post-cmark)
diff --git a/TODOS.md b/TODOS.md
index 8d2dda7..95eb84c 100644
--- a/TODOS.md
+++ b/TODOS.md
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@
   - Checks all links on each page to make sure they are valid.
 - [ ] Peruse [GitHub's](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/writing-on-github/getting-started-with-writing-and-formatting-on-github/basic-writing-and-formatting-syntax#alerts)
       docs for any juicy nuggets we may have missed.
+- [ ] Avoid using `render_inline_md` if possible.
 
 ## Dates
 - [ ] display an error when no part of the date appears in the output.
diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index 7b6987d..f90ade1 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -158,6 +158,7 @@
               tree-sitter
 
               gdb
+              perf
 
               # IDE
               unstable.helix
diff --git a/markdown/deflists.odin b/markdown/deflists.odin
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0525b77
--- /dev/null
+++ b/markdown/deflists.odin
@@ -0,0 +1,197 @@
+package markdown
+
+import cm "vendor:commonmark"
+
+import "core:strings"
+
+// DefList_Entry represents a single term-definition pair in a definition list.
+DefList_Entry :: struct {
+	term:       string,
+	definition: string,
+}
+
+// convert_deflists scans markdown text for definition list patterns and
+// converts them to <dl><dt><dd> HTML blocks before cmark processing.
+//
+// A definition line starts with optional whitespace followed by a colon and
+// a space. The term is the nearest preceding non-blank line (immediately or
+// within one blank line). Consecutive term+definition pairs are grouped into
+// a single <dl> block.
+//
+// Terms and definitions are rendered through cmark individually so that
+// inline markdown (code, links, emphasis) is processed.
+convert_deflists :: proc(body: string, allocator := context.allocator) -> string {
+	lines := strings.split(body, "\n", allocator = context.temp_allocator)
+
+	sb := strings.builder_make(context.temp_allocator)
+
+	first := true
+	need_blank := false
+
+	i := 0
+	for i < len(lines) {
+		entries, matched, next := try_match_deflist(lines, i)
+		if matched {
+			html := render_deflist(entries)
+			if !first {
+				strings.write_string(&sb, "\n\n")
+			}
+			strings.write_string(&sb, html)
+			first = false
+			need_blank = true
+			i = next
+			continue
+		}
+
+		if need_blank {
+			strings.write_string(&sb, "\n\n")
+			need_blank = false
+		} else if !first {
+			strings.write_string(&sb, "\n")
+		}
+		strings.write_string(&sb, lines[i])
+		first = false
+		i += 1
+	}
+
+	return strings.clone(strings.to_string(sb), allocator)
+}
+
+// try_match_deflist attempts to match a definition list group starting at
+// lines[start]. A group is one or more term+definition pairs. Returns the
+// matched entries, whether a match was found, and the index past the group.
+try_match_deflist :: proc(
+	lines: []string,
+	start: int,
+) -> (
+	entries: [dynamic]DefList_Entry,
+	ok: bool,
+	end: int,
+) {
+	entries = make([dynamic]DefList_Entry, 0, allocator = context.temp_allocator)
+	end = start
+
+	i := start
+	for i < len(lines) {
+		// A term must be non-blank and not itself a def line
+		if is_blank_line(lines[i]) || is_def_line(lines[i]) {
+			break
+		}
+
+		// Look for a def line: immediately after or with one blank line
+		def_idx := i + 1
+		if def_idx < len(lines) && is_blank_line(lines[def_idx]) {
+			def_idx += 1
+		}
+
+		if def_idx >= len(lines) || !is_def_line(lines[def_idx]) {
+			break
+		}
+
+		// Found a term + def pair
+		append(
+			&entries,
+			DefList_Entry {
+				term = strings.trim_space(lines[i]),
+				definition = def_content(lines[def_idx]),
+			},
+		)
+		i = def_idx + 1
+
+		// After a pair, check if another pair follows (optionally
+		// separated by one blank line). If so, continue the group.
+		// If not, break without consuming the blank line.
+		if i < len(lines) && is_blank_line(lines[i]) {
+			after_blank := i + 1
+			if after_blank < len(lines) &&
+			   !is_blank_line(lines[after_blank]) &&
+			   !is_def_line(lines[after_blank]) {
+				// Check whether a def follows this potential term
+				check_def := after_blank + 1
+				if check_def < len(lines) && is_blank_line(lines[check_def]) {
+					check_def += 1
+				}
+				if check_def < len(lines) && is_def_line(lines[check_def]) {
+					i = after_blank
+					continue
+				}
+			}
+			break
+		}
+	}
+
+	if len(entries) > 0 {
+		ok = true
+		end = i
+	}
+	return
+}
+
+// is_def_line returns true if the line is a definition line:
+// optional leading whitespace, a colon, then whitespace or end-of-line.
+is_def_line :: proc(line: string) -> bool {
+	trimmed := strings.trim_left(line, " \t")
+	if len(trimmed) < 1 || trimmed[0] != ':' {
+		return false
+	}
+	if len(trimmed) == 1 {
+		return true
+	}
+	return trimmed[1] == ' ' || trimmed[1] == '\t'
+}
+
+// def_content extracts the definition text from a definition line,
+// stripping the leading colon and surrounding whitespace.
+def_content :: proc(line: string) -> string {
+	trimmed := strings.trim_left(line, " \t")
+	content := trimmed[1:]
+	content = strings.trim_left(content, " \t")
+	return content
+}
+
+// is_blank_line returns true for empty or whitespace-only lines.
+is_blank_line :: proc(line: string) -> bool {
+	return strings.trim_space(line) == ""
+}
+
+// render_deflist builds the <dl> HTML block from a list of entries.
+// Each term and definition is rendered through cmark to process inline
+// markdown. Result lives in context.temp_allocator.
+render_deflist :: proc(entries: [dynamic]DefList_Entry) -> string {
+	sb := strings.builder_make(context.temp_allocator)
+
+	strings.write_string(&sb, "<dl>")
+	for entry in entries {
+		term_html := render_inline_md(entry.term)
+		def_html := render_inline_md(entry.definition)
+		strings.write_string(&sb, "<dt>")
+		strings.write_string(&sb, term_html)
+		strings.write_string(&sb, "</dt><dd>")
+		strings.write_string(&sb, def_html)
+		strings.write_string(&sb, "</dd>")
+	}
+	strings.write_string(&sb, "</dl>")
+
+	return strings.to_string(sb)
+}
+
+// render_inline_md renders a snippet of markdown through cmark and strips
+// the surrounding <p> tags. Result lives in context.temp_allocator.
+render_inline_md :: proc(text: string) -> string {
+	raw := cm.markdown_to_html_from_string(text, {.Unsafe})
+	defer cm.free_string(raw)
+	return strings.clone(strip_p_tags(raw), context.temp_allocator)
+}
+
+// strip_p_tags removes surrounding <p></p> if the HTML is a single paragraph.
+strip_p_tags :: proc(html: string) -> string {
+	s := html
+	if len(s) > 0 && s[len(s) - 1] == '\n' {
+		s = s[:len(s) - 1]
+	}
+	if strings.has_prefix(s, "<p>") && strings.has_suffix(s, "</p>") {
+		return s[3:len(s) - 4]
+	}
+	return s
+}
+
diff --git a/markdown/deflists_test.odin b/markdown/deflists_test.odin
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c076b4a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/markdown/deflists_test.odin
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+#+test
+package markdown
+
+import "core:strings"
+import "core:testing"
+
+@(test)
+test_single_entry :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	input := "term\n\n: definition"
+	result := convert_deflists(input, context.temp_allocator)
+	expected := "<dl><dt>term</dt><dd>definition</dd></dl>"
+	testing.expect_value(t, result, expected)
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_single_entry_no_blank :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	input := "term\n: definition"
+	result := convert_deflists(input, context.temp_allocator)
+	expected := "<dl><dt>term</dt><dd>definition</dd></dl>"
+	testing.expect_value(t, result, expected)
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_indented_variant :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	input := " term\n : definition"
+	result := convert_deflists(input, context.temp_allocator)
+	expected := "<dl><dt>term</dt><dd>definition</dd></dl>"
+	testing.expect_value(t, result, expected)
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_multiple_entries :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	input := "t1\n\n: d1\n\nt2\n\n: d2"
+	result := convert_deflists(input, context.temp_allocator)
+	expected := "<dl><dt>t1</dt><dd>d1</dd><dt>t2</dt><dd>d2</dd></dl>"
+	testing.expect_value(t, result, expected)
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_mixed_indented_and_non_indented :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	input := "t1\n\n: d1\n\n t2\n : d2\n\nt3\n\n: d3"
+	result := convert_deflists(input, context.temp_allocator)
+	expected := "<dl><dt>t1</dt><dd>d1</dd><dt>t2</dt><dd>d2</dd><dt>t3</dt><dd>d3</dd></dl>"
+	testing.expect_value(t, result, expected)
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_inline_markdown_in_term :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	input := "`code`\n\n: def"
+	result := convert_deflists(input, context.temp_allocator)
+	expected := "<dl><dt><code>code</code></dt><dd>def</dd></dl>"
+	testing.expect_value(t, result, expected)
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_inline_markdown_in_definition :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	input := "term\n\n: see [Content](#content) here"
+	result := convert_deflists(input, context.temp_allocator)
+	testing.expect(t, strings.contains(result, `<a href="#content">Content</a>`))
+	testing.expect(t, strings.contains(result, "<dd>see "))
+	testing.expect(t, strings.contains(result, "</dd>"))
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_regular_text_passes_through :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	input := "This is: not a deflist"
+	result := convert_deflists(input, context.temp_allocator)
+	testing.expect_value(t, result, input)
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_colon_inside_paragraph_no_false_positive :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	input := "First paragraph.\n\nSecond paragraph."
+	result := convert_deflists(input, context.temp_allocator)
+	testing.expect_value(t, result, input)
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_deflist_between_paragraphs :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	input := "Before.\n\nterm\n\n: def\n\nAfter."
+	result := convert_deflists(input, context.temp_allocator)
+	testing.expect(t, strings.has_prefix(result, "Before."))
+	testing.expect(t, strings.contains(result, "<dl><dt>term</dt><dd>def</dd></dl>"))
+	testing.expect(t, strings.has_suffix(result, "After."))
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_empty_body :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	result := convert_deflists("", context.temp_allocator)
+	testing.expect_value(t, result, "")
+}
+
+@(test)
+test_docs_md_pattern :: proc(t: ^testing.T) {
+	input := "content\n\n: `content` holds your pages.\n\n assets\n : `assets` contains files."
+	result := convert_deflists(input, context.temp_allocator)
+	testing.expect(t, strings.contains(result, "<dl>"))
+	testing.expect(t, strings.contains(result, "<dt>content</dt>"))
+	testing.expect(t, strings.contains(result, "<dt>assets</dt>"))
+	testing.expect(t, strings.contains(result, "<code>content</code>"))
+	testing.expect(t, strings.contains(result, "<code>assets</code>"))
+	testing.expect(t, strings.contains(result, "</dl>"))
+}
+
diff --git a/markdown/footnotes.odin b/markdown/footnotes.odin
index b897259..2e37bed 100644
--- a/markdown/footnotes.odin
+++ b/markdown/footnotes.odin
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 package markdown
 
-import cm "vendor:commonmark"
-
 import "core:fmt"
 import "core:strings"
 
@@ -171,9 +169,7 @@ inject_notes :: proc(html: string, sn_defs, mn_defs: map[string]string) -> strin
 		}
 
 		// Render definition through cmark for markdown support
-		raw_html := cm.markdown_to_html_from_string(def_text, {.Unsafe})
-		defer cm.free_string(raw_html)
-		def_html := strip_p_tags(raw_html)
+		def_html := render_inline_md(def_text)
 
 		note: string
 		defer delete(note)
@@ -200,15 +196,3 @@ inject_notes :: proc(html: string, sn_defs, mn_defs: map[string]string) -> strin
 	return strings.to_string(parts)
 }
 
-// strip_p_tags removes surrounding <p></p> if the HTML is a single paragraph.
-strip_p_tags :: proc(html: string) -> string {
-	s := html
-	if len(s) > 0 && s[len(s) - 1] == '\n' {
-		s = s[:len(s) - 1]
-	}
-	if strings.has_prefix(s, "<p>") && strings.has_suffix(s, "</p>") {
-		return s[3:len(s) - 4]
-	}
-	return s
-}
-
diff --git a/markdown/markdown.odin b/markdown/markdown.odin
index af6e5be..ecaa3f2 100644
--- a/markdown/markdown.odin
+++ b/markdown/markdown.odin
@@ -12,9 +12,10 @@ Extension :: enum {
 	Highlight,
 	Sections,
 	HeadingIDs,
+	DefLists,
 }
 
-DEFAULT_EXTENSIONS :: bit_set[Extension]{.Emoji, .Sidenotes, .Alerts, .HeadingIDs}
+DEFAULT_EXTENSIONS :: bit_set[Extension]{.Emoji, .Sidenotes, .Alerts, .HeadingIDs, .DefLists}
 
 // Caller is responsible for freeing string
 process :: proc(
@@ -29,6 +30,9 @@ process :: proc(
 	if .Sidenotes in ext {
 		clean_body, side_notes, margin_notes = strip_definitions(body)
 	}
+	if .DefLists in ext {
+		clean_body = convert_deflists(clean_body, allocator)
+	}
 	original_html := cm.markdown_to_html_from_string(clean_body, {.Unsafe})
 	html := strings.clone(original_html, allocator)
 	cm.free_string(original_html)
@@ -71,6 +75,8 @@ parse_extension_list :: proc(s: string) -> (result: bit_set[Extension]) {
 			result += {.Sections}
 		case "heading_ids":
 			result += {.HeadingIDs}
+		case "deflists":
+			result += {.DefLists}
 		}
 	}
 	return result
@@ -94,6 +100,8 @@ apply_extension_config :: proc(ext: ^bit_set[Extension], config: json.Object) {
 			if enabled {ext^ += {.Sections}} else {ext^ -= {.Sections}}
 		case "heading_ids":
 			if enabled {ext^ += {.HeadingIDs}} else {ext^ -= {.HeadingIDs}}
+		case "deflists":
+			if enabled {ext^ += {.DefLists}} else {ext^ -= {.DefLists}}
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/site/content/docs.md b/site/content/docs.md
index 4009194..5aec496 100644
--- a/site/content/docs.md
+++ b/site/content/docs.md
@@ -82,9 +82,7 @@ TODO: Describe
 
 TODO: Don't forget to highlight differences from Hugo.
 
-## Templates[^tempmod]
-
-[^tempmod]: Template modification is an "advanced" feature, and shoud probably be discussed later in the page. (or possibly in the guide.)
+## Templates
 
 Sites are built using one or more template files written in an extended version of [mustache](https://mustache.github.io) templates. The [mustache manual](https://mustache.github.io/mustache.5.html) has great explainations and a lot of examples if you want to know more, but I'll summarize them for you here.