To covert "word_1 word_2" to "SELECT * FROM table WHERE term LIKE '%word_1%' OR term LIKE '%word_2%' use Array's join method.
terms = "car boat train"
=> "car boat train"
terms = terms.split(" ")
=> ["car", "boat", "train"]
sqlWHERE = "term LIKE '%" << terms.join("%' OR term LIKE '%") + "%' "
=> "term LIKE '%car%' OR term LIKE '%boat%' OR term LIKE '%train%' "