18-letter words containing a, e, g, y
- spectroheliography — the process of obtaining an image of the sun in light of a particular wavelength, such as calcium or hydrogen, showing the distribution of the element over the surface and in the solar atmosphere, using a spectroheliograph
- spherical geometry — the branch of geometry that deals with figures on spherical surfaces.
- stand-by generator — an electrical system which operates automatically in case the usual system malfunctions
- stand-by passenger — someone who buys a (usually cheaper) ticket, if they are still available, on a plane just before it is about to leave rather than booking in advance
- state of emergency — If a government or other authority declares a state of emergency in an area, it introduces special measures such as increased powers for the police or army, usually because of civil disorder or because of a natural disaster such as an earthquake.
- strathclyde region — a former local government region in W Scotland: formed in 1975 from Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire, Buteshire, Dunbartonshire, and parts of Argyllshire, Ayrshire, and Stirlingshire; replaced in 1996 by the council areas of Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, Argyll and Bute, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, and East Ayrshire
- structural geology — the branch of geology dealing with the structure and distribution of the rocks that make up the crust of the earth. Also called tectonics. Compare structure (def 7a).
- summary proceeding — a mode of trial authorized by statute to be held before a judge without the usual full hearing.
- superciliary ridge — browridge.
- swedish gymnastics — a system of passive and active exercising of muscles and joints
- sympathetic string — a thin wire string, as in various obsolete musical instruments, designed to vibrate sympathetically with the bowed or plucked strings to reinforce the sound.
- system-programming — a program, as an operating system, compiler, or utility program, that controls some aspect of the operation of a computer (opposed to application program).
- systems programmer — a person whose job is to program systems software
- there you go again — Phrases such as there you go again are used to show annoyance at someone who is repeating something that has annoyed you in the past.
- three-day eventing — participation in a three day equestrian competition consisting of dressage, cross-country jumping, and stadium jumping
- track geometry car — a railroad car equipped with instruments for providing a continuous printed record of the cross level, gauge, alignment, warp, curvature, and bank of a track.
- translation agency — an organization that provide people to translate speech or writing into a different language
- travelling library — a mobile library in which a vehicle such as a van delivers books to be borrowed
- treaty obligations — obligations or duties that must be carried out by a party as according to a treaty they have entered into
- treaty of waitangi — a treaty signed in 1840 by Māori chiefs and a representative of the British Government, providing the basis for the British annexation of New Zealand
- vectorcardiography — a method of determining the direction and magnitude of the electrical forces of the heart.
- veterinary surgeon — Chiefly British. a veterinarian.
- welwyn garden city — a town in SE England, in Hertfordshire: established (1920) as a planned industrial and residential community. Pop: 43 512 (2001)
- whispering gallery — a space or gallery beneath a dome or broad arch in which low sounds produced at any of certain points are clearly audible at certain other distant points.
- yellow-green algae — a group of common single-celled and colonial algae of the phylum Chrysophyta, having mostly yellow and green pigments, occurring in soil and on moist rocks and vegetation and also as a slime or scum on ponds and stagnant waters.
- young conservative — a member of the youth section of the United Kingdom Conservative Party