DEF: design exchange file/format, could contains, netlist, routing, via, nets...
LEF: Library Exchange File, define physically the element (std cell-memories-pads...)
Captable: is precompute capacitance table to estimate the delay due to nets.
wireload model: basic estimation of the network delay into the path delay.
PLE flow: the network delay is calculate based on the technology LEF information's and the captable.
Physical synthesis: the floorplan is provided via a DEF file, and RC could improve his network delay estimation, because he knows where the std cell could be placed, and where are the macro's element.