15-letter words containing a, n, u, b, i
- right-hand buoy — a distinctive buoy marking the side of a channel regarded as the right, or starboard, side.
- rough breathing — the symbol (ʿ) used in the writing of Greek to indicate aspiration of the initial vowel or of the ρ (rho) over which it is placed.
- roundaboutation — circumlocution
- roundaboutility — roundaboutness
- rubaiyat stanza — a quatrain patterned after those in The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, of iambic pentameter and rhyming aaba.
- rubbing alcohol — a poisonous solution of about 70 percent isopropyl or denatured ethyl alcohol, usually containing a perfume oil, used chiefly in massaging.
- runabout ticket — a rail ticket that allows unlimited travel within a specified area for a limited period of time (for example one day, a weekend, three days, etc)
- salisbury plain — a plateau in S England, N of Salisbury: the site of Stonehenge.
- san luis obispo — a city in W California.
- sauvignon blanc — a white grape grown primarily in France and California.
- saviour sibling — a child conceived through IVF and screened for compatibility with a terminally or seriously ill sibling in order to provide organ or cell donations as a form of treatment
- scribaciousness — the quality or state of being scribacious
- sesquicarbonate — a salt intermediate in composition between a carbonate and a bicarbonate or consisting of the two combined.
- siberian squill — a bulbous, Eurasian plant, Scilla siberica, of the lily family, having nodding, deep blue flowers.
- sleeping beauty — a beautiful princess, the heroine of a popular fairy tale, awakened from a charmed sleep by the kiss of the prince who is her true love.
- sodium benzoate — a white crystalline soluble compound used as an antibacterial and antifungal agent in preserving food (E211), as an antiseptic, and in making dyes and pharmaceuticals. Formula: (C6H5COO)Na
- spinach-rhubarb — an Ethiopian plant, Rumex abyssinicus, of the buckwheat family, having leaves that are sometimes used as spinach and leafstalks sometimes used as rhubarb.
- stable equation — a differential equation each solution of which tends to zero as the independent variable increases to infinity. Compare transient (def 6).
- sub-corporation — an association of individuals, created by law or under authority of law, having a continuous existence independent of the existences of its members, and powers and liabilities distinct from those of its members. See also municipal corporation, public corporation.
- sub-machine gun — a lightweight automatic or semiautomatic gun, fired from the shoulder or hip.
- subalimentation — hypoalimentation.
- subcivilization — a division of a civilization
- subclavian vein — either of a pair of veins, one on each side of the body, that return blood from the arms to the heart.
- subconjunctival — the mucous membrane that lines the exposed portion of the eyeball and inner surface of the eyelids.
- subject heading — a title or heading of a category, esp in a bibliography or index
- subject-raising — a rule that moves the subject of a complement clause into the clause in which it is embedded, as in the derivation of He is likely to be late from It is likely that he will be late
- sublapsarianism — infralapsarianism.
- subminimum wage — See example at subminimum (def 1).
- suboptimization — a situation which is less than optimal
- suborganization — an organization within a larger organization
- subprofessional — being below professional standards: subprofessional health care.
- subsidiary coin — a coin, especially one made of silver, having a value less than that of the monetary unit.
- substantiatable — to establish by proof or competent evidence: to substantiate a charge.
- substantiveness — a noun.
- substitutionary — a person or thing acting or serving in place of another.
- subtrochanteric — Anatomy. either of two knobs at the top of the femur, the greater on the outside and the lesser on the inside, serving for the attachment of muscles between the thigh and pelvis.
- suburbanization — to give suburban characteristics to: to suburbanize a rural area.
- subvocalization — the act or process of producing subvocal speech
- tableau curtain — a curtain, often used as an act curtain, designed to be drawn aside and up to give a festooned or draped effect.
- tailor's bunion — a bunionlike enlargement of the joint of the little toe, usually caused by pressure from tight shoes.
- transubstantial — to change from one substance into another; transmute.
- tuberculization — the process of becoming, or of causing people or animals to become, infected with tuberculosis
- tumbling barrel — a rotating drum for subjecting materials or small manufactured objects, loosely placed inside, to a tumbling action, as to mix materials or to polish objects by friction with one another or with an abrasive.
- turbinate bones — the thin scroll-shaped bones situated on the walls of the nasal passages
- un-considerable — rather large or great in size, distance, extent, etc.: It cost a considerable amount. We took a considerable length of time to decide.
- unacceptability — capable or worthy of being accepted.
- unadvisableness — the quality of being imprudent or not advisable
- unaffordability — that can be afforded; believed to be within one's financial means: attractive new cars at affordable prices.
- unanswerability — the quality of not being answerable or contestable
- unapprehensible — not able to be understood or comprehended