14-letter words containing a, m, t, r, c
- atacama desert — a desert region along the W coast of South America, mainly in N Chile: a major source of nitrates. Area: about 80 000 sq km (31 000 sq miles)
- atomic orbital — Physics, Chemistry. a wave function describing the state of a single electron in an atom (atomic orbital) or in a molecule (molecular orbital) the electron in that state.
- atomic reactor — reactor (def 4).
- atomic veteran — a veteran of the armed forces who was exposed to radioactivity during the testing or use of nuclear (atomic) weapons in World War II or subsequent wars.
- atomic warfare — war in which nuclear weapons are used
- atomic-powered — powered by atomic energy
- autocollimator — an instrument combining the functions of a telescope and collimator, for detecting and measuring very small deviations in a beam of light.
- automatic door — a self-opening door
- azimuth circle — a device for measuring azimuths, consisting of a graduated ring equipped with a sighting vane on each side, which fits concentrically over a compass.
- back formation — the invention of a new word on the assumption that a familiar word is derived from it. The verbs edit and burgle were so created from editor and burglar
- back-formation — the analogical creation of one word from another word that appears to be a derived or inflected form of the first by dropping the apparent affix or by modification.
- backstrap loom — a simple horizontal loom, used especially in Central and South America, on which one of two beams holding the warp yarn is attached to a strap that passes across the weaver's back.
- bactrian camel — a two-humped camel, Camelus bactrianus, used as a beast of burden in the cold deserts of central Asia
- baltimore chop — a batted ball that takes a high bounce upon hitting the ground on or immediately in front of home plate, often enabling the batter to reach first base safely.
- bamboo curtain — (esp in the 1950s and 1960s) the political and military barrier to communications around the People's Republic of China
- barometrically — By means of a barometer.
- bermuda cutter — a marconi-rigged cutter.
- bioinformatics — the branch of information science concerned with large databases of biochemical or pharmaceutical information
- broad-spectrum — effective against a wide variety of diseases or microorganisms
- cairngormstone — (mineral, rare) A yellow or smoky brown variety of rock crystal, found especially in the mountains of w Cairngorm in Scotland.
- calendar month — A calendar month is one of the twelve months of the year.
- caltrop family — the plant family Zygophyllaceae, typified by tropical herbaceous plants and shrubs having pinnate leaves, solitary or paired regular flowers, and fruit in the form of a capsule, and including the creosote bush, lignum vitae, and puncture vine.
- campaign trail — the series of appearances that a politician makes at different locations as part of a political campaign, esp before an election
- campylobacters — Plural form of campylobacter.
- campylotropous — (of an ovule) curved so that the micropyle and funiculus almost touch
- capital market — the financial institutions collectively that deal with medium-term and long-term capital and loans
- captive market — a group of consumers who are obliged through lack of choice to buy a particular product, thus giving the supplier a monopoly
- caramelisation — (chiefly British) alternative spelling of caramelization.
- caramelization — the conversion of sugar into caramel, caused by heating
- carcinomatosis — a condition characterized by widespread dissemination of carcinomas or by a carcinoma that affects a large area
- cardiomyopathy — a disease of the heart muscle usually caused by a biochemical defect or a toxin such as alcohol
- careers master — a male teacher who gives pupils advice and information about careers
- carpenter moth — any of various large moths of the family Cossidae, the larvae of which bore beneath and cause damage to tree bark
- carpet bombing — Carpet bombing is heavy bombing from aircraft, with the intention of hitting as many places as possible in a particular area.
- carpet muncher — lesbian
- castrametation — the art of designing and laying out an encampment
- catcher's mitt — the glove worn by the catcher to protect the hands
- catchment area — The catchment area of a school, hospital, or other service is the area that it serves.
- celto-germanic — having the characteristics of both the Celtic and Germanic peoples.
- centenarianism — the situation or condition of being a centenarian
- center of mass — the point in a body or system of bodies at which the entire mass may be assumed to be concentrated
- central moment — a moment about the center of a distribution, usually the mean.
- centre of mass — the point at which the mass of a system could be concentrated without affecting the behaviour of the system under the action of external linear forces
- centripetalism — the movement of things towards a centre
- cephalometrics — The measurement and analysis of the craniofacial area, especially as an aid to dental or orthodontic procedures.
- ceremonial tea — a Japanese green tea made from choice shade-grown leaves that are cured by a steaming, drying, and powdering process: used in chanoyu.
- certified mail — If you send a letter or package by certified mail, you send it using a mail service which gives you an official record of the fact that it has been mailed and delivered.
- charles martel — grandfather of Charlemagne. ?688–741 ad, Frankish ruler of Austrasia (715–41), who checked the Muslim invasion of Europe by defeating the Moors at Poitiers (732)
- charm bracelet — a bracelet that has small ornaments fixed to it
- charter member — A charter member of a club, group, or organization is one of the first members, often one who was involved in setting it up.