15-letter words containing a, c, o
- allotriomorphic — (of minerals) not having their own regular shape (as determined by their internal structure) but being shaped instead by adjacent minerals
- alopecia areata — loss of hair in circumscribed patches.
- alpha-cellulose — a refined, insoluble form of cellulose derived from cotton or wood pulp, and used in manufacturing
- alpine accentor — a small bird of the sparrow family, Prunella collaris, found especially in mountain regions of S Europe and Asia
- alpine combined — a competition for Alpine skiers in a combination of downhill and slalom races, the winner having the highest total score.
- alsace-lorraine — an area of NE France, comprising the modern regions of Alsace and Lorraine: under German rule 1871–1919 and 1940–44. Area: 14 522 sq km (5607 sq miles)
- alta california — a former Spanish colony of New Spain, in the modern-day states of California, Nevada, and N Arizona: ceded by Mexico to the United States 1848.
- aluminosilicate — a silicate in which some of the silicon in the tetrahedral unit SiO4 has been replaced by aluminium
- amaryllidaceous — of, relating to, or belonging to the Amaryllidaceae, a family of widely cultivated flowering plants having bulbs and including the amaryllis, snowdrop, narcissus, and daffodil
- ambrose channel — a ship channel at the entrance to New York harbor, near Sandy Hook. 7½ miles (12 km) long.
- ambrosian chant — the liturgical chant, established by Saint Ambrose, characterized by ornamented, often antiphonal, singing.
- ambulatory care — care given at a hospital to non-resident patients, including minor surgery and outpatient treatment
- amegakaryocytic — Characterized by a lack of megakaryocytes.
- amenity society — a voluntary society established with the purpose of preserving historic art and architecture
- american copper — a malleable, ductile, metallic element having a characteristic reddish-brown color: used in large quantities as an electrical conductor and in the manufacture of alloys, as brass and bronze. Symbol: Cu; atomic weight: 63.54; atomic number: 29; specific gravity: 8.92 at 20°C.
- american cotton — upland cotton.
- american gothic — a painting (1930) by Grant Wood.
- american legion — an association of former member of the US armed forces
- american smooth — a style of competitive ballroom dancing which incorporates elements of Latin dance
- american wigeon — a bird of North America, Anas americana, that is similar to the wigeon; the male has a white crown
- americanization — Americanization is the process by which people or countries become more and more similar to Americans and the United States.
- americanologist — a foreign expert or specialist in American cultural or political matters: a leading Americanologist in the Kremlin.
- aminoglycosides — Plural form of aminoglycoside.
- ammunition clip — a device for storing rounds of ammunition and feeding them into a weapon
- anacoluthically — in an anacoluthic manner
- anacostia river — a river in the District of Columbia flowing into the Potomac River. about 24 miles (39 km) long.
- analog computer — a mechanical, electrical, or electronic computer that performs arithmetical operations by using some variable physical quantity, such as mechanical movement or voltage, to represent numbers
- analogous color — Art. any one of a group of related colors that are near each other on the color wheel, a circular chart that shows gradations of color: Red, orange, and yellow are analogous colors. Compare complementary color (def 1a).
- anamorphic lens — a component in the optical system of a film projector for converting standard 35mm film images into wide-screen format
- anchorage point — a point to which something such as the straps securing a childseat can be safely attached
- ancient history — Ancient history is the history of ancient civilizations, especially Greece and Rome.
- ancient of days — a name for God, originating in the Authorized Version of the Old Testament (Daniel 7:9)
- ancylostomiasis — infestation of the human intestine with blood-sucking hookworms, causing progressive anaemia
- andrew of crete — a.d. c650–730, Greek poet and Orthodox archbishop of Crete.
- andromonoecious — (of a plant species) having hermaphrodite and male flowers on the same plant
- aneroid capsule — a box or chamber of thin metal, partially exhausted of air, used in the aneroid barometer and pressure altimeter.
- anfractuosities — Plural form of anfractuosity.
- angel food cake — a light, spongy, white cake made with egg whites and no shortening
- angina pectoris — a sudden intense pain in the chest, often accompanied by feelings of suffocation, caused by momentary lack of adequate blood supply to the heart muscle
- angle of attack — the acute angle between the chord line of an aerofoil and the undisturbed relative airflow
- animal charcoal — carbon obtained from the carbonization of organic tissue of animals.
- anisotropically — Physics. of unequal physical properties along different axes. Compare isotropic (def 1).
- anne hutchinson — Anne Marbury [mahr-buh-ree] /ˈmɑr bə ri/ (Show IPA), 1591–1643, American religious liberal, born in England: banished from Massachusetts 1637.
- anomalistically — In an anomalistic manner; with irregularity.
- antarctic ocean — the sea surrounding Antarctica, consisting of the most southerly parts of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans
- anthropocentric — regarding man as the most important and central factor in the universe
- anthropological — the science that deals with the origins, physical and cultural development, biological characteristics, and social customs and beliefs of humankind.
- anthropometrics — the science of measuring the size and proportions of the human body (called anthropometry), especially as applied to the design of furniture and machines.
- anthropomorphic — Anthropomorphic means relating to the idea that an animal, a god, or an object has feelings or characteristics like those of a human being.
- anthropopsychic — the attribution of consciousness to divine beings and nature