12-letter words containing a, p, l, u
- petaliferous — bearing or having petals.
- petrobutanol — butyl alcohol.
- petrol gauge — a gauge that indicates the amount of petrol left in the tank of a vehicle
- philadelphus — (Philadelphus) king of Pergamum c159–138 b.c.
- photo layout — a picture spread. See under spread (def 33).
- photonuclear — of, relating to, or caused by the collision of high-energy photons with the nucleus of an atom.
- picture rail — bar from which pictures are hung
- pig launcher — A pig launcher is a device which starts a pig moving without interrupting flow.
- plain turkey — a bustard
- planing hull — a hull that tends to rise from the water when under way so that no significant amount of water is displaced beyond a certain speed.
- plant-cutter — any of several South American, passerine birds of the family Phytotomidae, superficially resembling grosbeaks but having serrated edges on the bill that aid in cutting leaves and other plant food.
- plat du jour — the special or featured dish of the day on a restaurant menu.
- platanaceous — relating to the family Platanaceae
- plate armour — armour made of thin metal plates, which superseded mail during the 14th century
- platitudinal — platitudinous.
- plattdeutsch — the Low German vernacular dialects spoken in northern Germany.
- plausibility — having an appearance of truth or reason; seemingly worthy of approval or acceptance; credible; believable: a plausible excuse; a plausible plot.
- play through — to pass another foursome or group with their permission, while playing a round of golf
- plead guilty — defendant: declare guilt
- pleiochasium — a flowering system in which several buds come out at the same time
- plenum cable — (hardware) Cable that can be (legally) installed in the plenum (the space between a ceiling and the floor above it). Such cable is (usually) teflon-coated so that it will not give off toxic fumes when burned. In some parts of the world such cable is required by law.
- plug casting — bait casting in which a plug is used as the lure.
- plumbaginous — containing graphite.
- plumulaceous — having the texture of down.
- plunge basin — a cavity at the base of a falls or cataract, formed by the action of the falling water.
- plunket baby — a baby brought up in infancy under the dietary recommendations of the Plunket Society
- pluriliteral — (in Hebrew grammar) containing more than three letters in the root
- plurilocular — possessing many cells
- plymouth bay — a small, well-protected bay on the coast of Massachusetts; the first permanent European settlement in New England; founded by the Pilgrim Fathers.
- pneumatology — Theology. doctrine concerning the Holy Spirit. the belief in intermediary spirits between humans and God.
- pneumococcal — a bacterium, Diplococcus pneumoniae, causing lobar pneumonia and associated with certain other diseases, as pericarditis and meningitis.
- pole vaulter — A pole vaulter is an athlete who performs the pole vault.
- polychaetous — of or relating to the genus Polychaeta
- polynucleate — having many nuclei.
- polyomavirus — any of a genus (Polyomavirus) of papovaviruses that naturally infect wild and laboratory mice, and that cause tumors when injected into newborn mice
- polypetalous — having a corolla of separate petals.
- polysepalous — having a calyx of separate or unconnected sepals.
- polyurethane — a thermoplastic polymer containing the group NHCOO: used for padding and insulation in furniture, clothing, and packaging, and in the manufacture of resins for adhesives, elastomers, and fillers.
- poplar bluff — a city in SE Missouri.
- popular song — a song that is written to have an immediate and wide appeal and is usually popular for only a short time, but that sometimes is of a sufficiently high quality to become part of the permanent repertoire of popular music and jazz. Compare standard (def 12).
- popular vote — the vote for a U.S. presidential candidate made by the qualified voters, as opposed to that made by the electoral college. Compare electoral vote.
- populational — the total number of persons inhabiting a country, city, or any district or area.
- porcelainous — made of or resembling porcelain
- porcelaneous — a strong, vitreous, translucent ceramic material, biscuit-fired at a low temperature, the glaze then fired at a very high temperature.
- post-nuclear — pertaining to or involving atomic weapons: nuclear war.
- postal union — an international agreement on postal rates and services.
- postdiluvial — existing or occurring after the biblical Flood
- postdiluvian — existing or occurring after the Biblical Flood.
- postsurgical — pertaining to or involving surgery or surgeons.
- potato flour — a type of flour made from potatoes