15-letter words containing a, r, e, t, s
- stack the cards — to prearrange the order of a pack of cards secretly so that the deal will benefit someone
- stage direction — an instruction written into the script of a play, indicating stage actions, movements of performers, or production requirements.
- staggered hours — a system of working in which the employees of an organization do not all arrive and leave at the same time, but have large periods of overlap
- stain resistant — (of a fabric, carpet, surface, etc) designed or having added chemicals in order to be resistant to being stained or marked
- stalactite work — (in Islamic architecture) intricate decorative corbeling in the form of brackets, squinches, and portions of pointed vaults.
- stamford bridge — a village in N England, east of York: site of a battle (1066) in which King Harold of England defeated his brother Tostig and King Harald Hardrada of Norway, three weeks before the Battle of Hastings
- stand to reason — a basis or cause, as for some belief, action, fact, event, etc.: the reason for declaring war.
- standard bearer — military: person who carries a flag
- standard candle — a unit of luminous intensity; the candela: not in scientific usage because of possible confusion with a former unit (international candle)
- standard clause — a clause which is inserted as standard into certain types of contracts or agreements
- standard-bearer — an officer or soldier of an army or military unit who bears a standard.
- standing charge — fixed energy costs
- standing orders — Military. (formerly) a general order always in force in a command and establishing uniform procedures for it; standard operating procedure.
- star connection — a connection used in a polyphase electrical device or system of devices in which the windings each have one end connected to a common junction, the star point, and the other end to a separate terminal
- star of courage — a Canadian award for bravery
- star-nosed mole — a North American mole, Condylura cristata, having a starlike ring of fleshy processes around the end of the snout.
- starfish flower — carrion flower (def 2).
- start of header — (character) (SOH) mnemonic for ASCII 1.
- start something — to cause a disturbance or trouble
- starting handle — a crank used to start the motor of an automobile.
- starvation diet — insufficient food to stay alive
- states' righter — a person who opposes U.S. federal intervention in affairs of the separate states, supporting this position by a strict interpretation of the Constitution of the U.S.
- static pressure — the pressure exerted by a fluid that is not moving or flowing.
- station officer — a person who is in charge of a fire station
- stationary wave — standing wave.
- statutory crime — a wrong punishable under a statute, rather than at common law.
- statutory order — a statute that applies further legislation to an existing act
- stay the course — to spend some time in a place, in a situation, with a person or group, etc.: He stayed in the army for ten years.
- steak au poivre — pepper steak (def 2).
- steam generator — steam-producing power plant
- steam reforming — a process in which methane from natural gas is heated, with steam, usually with a catalyst, to produce a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen used in organic synthesis and as a fuel
- steel engraving — a method of incising letters, designs, etc., on steel.
- step-and-repeat — noting or pertaining to a process by which successive photo-offset plates are produced automatically or semiautomatically with great precision: used especially in making plates for multicolor printing.
- stereologically — by way of stereology or in a stereological manner
- stereotypically — in a stereotypical manner
- stirrup leather — the strap that holds the stirrup of a saddle.
- stock character — a character in literature, theater, or film of a type quickly recognized and accepted by the reader or viewer and requiring no development by the writer.
- storage battery — a voltaic battery consisting of two or more storage cells.
- storage disease — a metabolic disorder characterized by excessive storage in certain cells of normal metabolic intermediates, as fats, iron, and carbohydrates.
- storm insurance — insurance cover against damage caused by windstorms
- straight matter — the body text of an article, story, etc., as distinguished from the title, subhead, and other display matter.
- straight ticket — a ballot on which all votes have been cast for candidates of the same party.
- straight-backed — having a straight, usually high, back: a straight-backed chair.
- straining piece — (in a queen-post roof) a horizontal beam uniting the tops of the two queen posts, and resisting the thrust of the roof.
- strait of dover — a strait between SE England and N France, linking the English Channel with the North Sea. Width: about 32 km (20 miles)
- stranger danger — the potential or perceived risk posed by unknown people to children and about which it may be advisable to warn them
- strawberry bass — the black crappie. See under crappie.
- strawberry bush — an E North American shrub or small tree, Euonymus americanus, having pendulous capsules that split when ripe to reveal scarlet seeds: family Celastraceae
- strawberry dish — a shallow, circular fruit dish with a fluted or pierced border.
- strawberry mark — a small, reddish, slightly raised birthmark.