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17-letter words containing a, c, r, o, d

  • fourfold purchase — a tackle that is composed of a rope passed through two fourfold blocks in such a way as to provide mechanical power in the ratio of 1 to 5 or 1 to 4, depending on whether hauling is done on the running or the standing block and without considering friction. Compare tackle (def 2).
  • fractal dimension — (mathematics)   A common type of fractal dimension is the Hausdorff-Besicovich Dimension, but there are several different ways of computing fractal dimension. Fractal dimension can be calculated by taking the limit of the quotient of the log change in object size and the log change in measurement scale, as the measurement scale approaches zero. The differences come in what is exactly meant by "object size" and what is meant by "measurement scale" and how to get an average number out of many different parts of a geometrical object. Fractal dimensions quantify the static *geometry* of an object. For example, consider a straight line. Now blow up the line by a factor of two. The line is now twice as long as before. Log 2 / Log 2 = 1, corresponding to dimension 1. Consider a square. Now blow up the square by a factor of two. The square is now 4 times as large as before (i.e. 4 original squares can be placed on the original square). Log 4 / log 2 = 2, corresponding to dimension 2 for the square. Consider a snowflake curve formed by repeatedly replacing ___ with _/\_, where each of the 4 new lines is 1/3 the length of the old line. Blowing up the snowflake curve by a factor of 3 results in a snowflake curve 4 times as large (one of the old snowflake curves can be placed on each of the 4 segments _/\_). Log 4 / log 3 = 1.261... Since the dimension 1.261 is larger than the dimension 1 of the lines making up the curve, the snowflake curve is a fractal. [sci.fractals FAQ].
  • frames per second — (unit)   (fps) The unit of measurement of the frame rate of a moving image.
  • french somaliland — a former name of Djibouti (def 1).
  • full load current — A full load current is the largest current that a motor or other device is designed to carry under particular conditions.
  • further education — adult education.
  • good-time charlie — an affable, sociable, pleasure-loving man.
  • grand touring car — GT (def 2).
  • grand union canal — a canal in S England linking London and the Midlands: opened in 1801
  • grandfather clock — a pendulum floor clock having a case as tall as or taller than a person; tall-case clock; long-case clock.
  • grandmother clock — a pendulum clock similar to a grandfather's clock but shorter.
  • greensand process — a process for casting iron with sand not previously heated.
  • grignard reaction — the reaction of a Grignard reagent with any of the numerous types of compounds with which it can combine, as alcohols, acids, aldehydes, ketones, or esters: used chiefly in organic synthesis.
  • grooved fricative — a fricative, as (s), in which air is channeled through a groove along the center of the tongue.
  • haemorrhoidectomy — surgical removal of haemorrhoids
  • half-round chisel — a cold chisel with a semicircular cutting edge used for making narrow channels
  • hall of residence — Halls of residence are buildings with rooms or flats, usually built by universities or colleges, in which students live during the term.
  • hard nut to crack — a dry fruit consisting of an edible kernel or meat enclosed in a woody or leathery shell.
  • hard rock geology — (loosely) of or relating to igneous or metamorphic rocks, as in mining (hard-rock mining) and geology (hard-rock geology)
  • haroun-al-raschid — Harun al-Rashid.
  • henry cabot lodge — Henry Cabot, 1850–1924, U.S. public servant and author: senator 1893–1924.
  • herbaceous border — A herbaceous border is a flower bed containing a mixture of plants that flower every year.
  • heterochlamydeous — (of a plant) having a perianth consisting of distinct sepals and petals
  • historical method — the process of establishing general facts and principles through attention to chronology and to the evolution or historical course of what is being studied.
  • homeland security — national defence
  • horseradish sauce — a piquant sauce made from horseradish root, vinegar, etc, and traditionally eaten in Britain with roast beef
  • household cavalry — (in Britain) cavalry units forming part of the ceremonial guard of the monarch.
  • hybrid fiber coax — (networking)   (HFC) A kind of physical connection used in networks for audio, video, and data. DVB (Digital Video Broadcast) is used in Europe and DOCSIS is used in N America.
  • hydrochloric acid — a colorless or faintly yellow, corrosive, fuming liquid, HCl, used chiefly in chemical and industrial processes.
  • hydroelectrically — Using hydroelectric power.
  • hydrofluoric acid — a colorless, fuming, corrosive liquid, HF, an aqueous solution of hydrogen fluoride, used chiefly for etching glass.
  • hydrofluorocarbon — Any of a class of partly chlorinated and fluorinated hydrocarbons, used as an alternative to chlorofluorocarbons in foam production, refrigeration, and other processes.
  • hydrogasification — a high-temperature, high-pressure process for producing liquid or gaseous fuels from fine particles of coal and hydrogen gas
  • hydrotherapeutics — hydrotherapy.
  • hypochlorous acid — a weak, unstable acid, HOCl, existing only in solution and in the form of its salts, used as a bleaching agent and disinfectant.
  • hypochondriacally — In a hypochondriacal manner.
  • icosidodecahedron — A semiregular polyhedron with twelve faces that are regular pentagons and twenty that are equilateral triangles.
  • icositetrahedrons — Plural form of icositetrahedron.
  • ideogrammatically — In terms of, or by means of, ideograms.
  • idiosyncratically — pertaining to the nature of idiosyncrasy, or something peculiar to an individual: The best minds are idiosyncratic and unpredictable as they follow the course of scientific discovery.
  • illegal procedure — a penalty assessed against the offensive team for a technical rules violation, as in assuming an illegal formation.
  • in the background — behind the focus of attention
  • inconsiderateness — without due regard for the rights or feelings of others: It was inconsiderate of him to keep us waiting.
  • incubation period — the period between infection and the appearance of signs of a disease.
  • indian rope-trick — the supposed Indian feat of climbing an unsupported rope
  • indicator diagram — a graphical or other representation of the cyclic variations of pressure and volume within the cylinder of a reciprocating engine obtained by using an indicator
  • indicator species — See at indicator (def 6).
  • indirect taxation — duty paid on goods or services
  • induction furnace — a type of electric furnace used for melting a charge of scrap by the heat produced by its own electrical resistance.
  • industrial action — job action.
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