15-letter words containing a, b, s, i
- elastic rebound — a theory of earthquakes that envisages gradual deformation of the fault zone without fault slippage until friction is overcome, when the fault suddenly slips to produce the earthquake
- emission nebula — a type of nebula that emits visible radiation
- endocannibalism — A form of cannibalism, the eating of dead members of one's own social group, often associated with spiritual beliefs.
- eta abstraction — eta conversion
- eustachian tube — part of the ear
- Évian-les-bains — a resort and spa town in E France, on Lake Geneva opposite Lausanne; noted for its bottled mineral waters. Pop: 8064 (2006)
- extension cable — an extra length of cable with a plug and a connector that can be added to an electric lead
- fabric softener — a substance added to fabrics during laundering to make them puffier and softer.
- fallopian tubes — one of a pair of long, slender ducts in the female abdomen that transport ova from the ovary to the uterus and, in fertilization, transport sperm cells from the uterus to the released ova; the oviduct of higher mammals.
- family business — company owned and run by a family
- fashionableness — The state of being fashionable; stylishness; elegance.
- fibrocartilages — Plural form of fibrocartilage.
- fish and brewis — a Newfoundland dish of cooked salt cod and soaked hard bread
- fishing harbour — a place where fishing boats are tied up
- flemish brabant — a province of central Belgium, formed in 1995 from the N part of Brabant province: densely populated and intensively farmed, with large industrial centres. Pop: 1 031 904 (2004 est). Area: 2106 sq km (813 sq miles)
- floral tributes — bunches or arrangements of flowers left as a memorial at the site of a fatal incident
- fob destination — FOB destination is a shipping term indicating that ownership of goods passes at delivery to their destination, and the seller has total responsibility until then.
- fountains abbey — a ruined Cistercian abbey near Ripon in Yorkshire: founded 1132, dissolved 1539; landscaped 1720
- francis bushman — Francis X(avier) 1883–1966, U.S. film actor.
- francis turbine — a water turbine designed to produce high flow from a low head of pressure: used esp in hydroelectric power generation
- gambier islands — a group of islands in the S Pacific Ocean, in French Polynesia. Chief settlement: Rikitéa. Pop: 1097 (2002). Area: 30 sq km (11 sq miles)
- gambling losses — money lost as a result of playing games of chance for money
- gastric balloon — an inflatable rubber bag placed in the stomach to reduce its capacity as an aid to losing weight
- gaudier-brzeska — Henri (ɑ̃ri), original name Henri Gaudier. 1891–1915, French vorticist sculptor
- gibson, william — William Gibson
- gilbert islands — a group of islands in the W Pacific: with Banaba, the Phoenix Islands, and three of the Line Islands they constitute the independent state of Kiribati; until 1975 they formed part of the British colony of Gilbert and Ellice Islands; achieved full independence in 1979. Pop: 82 902 (2005). Area: 295 sq km (114 sq miles)
- give sb a break — You can say 'give me a break' to show that you are annoyed by what someone has said or done.
- globus pallidus — anatomy: part of the brain
- groundbreakings — Plural form of groundbreaking.
- gyrostabilizers — Plural form of gyrostabilizer.
- harbour station — the part of a port where boats shelter or station
- health benefits — positive effects on health
- hendecasyllabic — having 11 syllables.
- herpes labialis — oral herpes.
- hoosier cabinet — a tall kitchen cabinet mass-produced during the early part of the 20th century, usually of oak, featuring an enameled work surface, storage bins, a flour sifter, etc.
- hypercatabolism — an abnormally high metabolic breakdown of a substance or tissue which leads to weight loss and physical deterioration
- hypermetabolism — Biology, Physiology. the sum of the physical and chemical processes in an organism by which its material substance is produced, maintained, and destroyed, and by which energy is made available. Compare anabolism, catabolism.
- hypnotisability — Alternative spelling of hypnotizability.
- ibero-maurusian — of or relating to an Epipaleolithic culture of northwestern Africa that preceded the Capsian culture and was once erroneously thought to have originated in southwestern Europe; characterized by the use of backed bladelets, occupation of the maritime plain, and the hunting of the Barbary sheep.
- illimitableness — The quality of being illimitable; absence of limits.
- immeasurability — Immeasurableness.
- immensurability — The quality of being immensurable.
- immunoadsorbent — immunosorbent.
- immunoassayable — Suitable for immunoassay.
- imperial bushel — a unit of dry measure containing 4 pecks, equivalent in the U.S. (and formerly in England) to 2150.42 cubic inches or 35.24 liters (Winchester bushel) and in Great Britain to 2219.36 cubic inches or 36.38 liters (Imperial bushel) Abbreviation: bu., bush.
- imperishability — not subject to decay; indestructible; enduring.
- imperviableness — the state of being imperviable
- implausibleness — The quality of being implausible.
- impregnableness — The state of being impregnable; impregnability.
- imprescriptable — Alt form imprescriptible.