17-letter words containing a, s, f
- span of attention — attention span.
- spanish influenza — the pandemic respiratory infection that spread throughout the world during 1917–18.
- spatial frequency — the measure of fine detail in an optical image in terms of cycles per millimetre
- spoonbill catfish — flathead catfish.
- sports facilities — places and things for doing sports
- staff association — an association of employees that performs some of the functions of a trade union, such as representing its members in discussions with the management, and may also have other social and professional purposes
- standard function — a subprogram provided by a translator that carries out a task, for example the computation of a mathematical function, such as sine, square root, etc
- stannous fluoride — a white, crystalline powder, SnF 2 , slightly soluble in water: used as a source of fluorine in the prevention of dental caries, especially as a toothpaste additive.
- star of bethlehem — the star that is supposed to have appeared above Bethlehem at the birth of Christ
- star-of-bethlehem — any of several plants belonging to the genus Ornithogalum, of the lily family, having grasslike leaves and clusters of white flowers.
- star-of-jerusalem — meadow salsify.
- stare in the face — to gaze fixedly and intently, especially with the eyes wide open.
- statue of liberty — a large copper statue, on Liberty Island, in New York harbor, depicting a woman holding a burning torch: designed by F. A. Bartholdi and presented to the U.S. by France; unveiled 1886.
- statutory offense — a wrong punishable under a statute, rather than at common law.
- stay of execution — If you are given a stay of execution, you are legally allowed to delay obeying an order of a court of law.
- stock certificate — a certificate evidencing ownership of one or more shares of stock in a corporation.
- store and forward — to store (information) in a computer for later forward transmission through a telecommunication network
- straight arm lift — a wrestling attack, in which a wrestler twists the opponent's arm against the joint and lifts him or her by it, often using the shoulder as a fulcrum
- strait of otranto — a stretch of water between SE Italy and Albania, connecting the Adriatic Sea with the Ionian Sea; of strategic importance during World War I
- stratford-on-avon — a town in SW Warwickshire, in central England, on the Avon River: birthplace and burial place of Shakespeare.
- stratified sample — a sample that is not drawn at random from the whole population, but separately from a number of disjoint strata of the population in order to ensure a more representative sample
- strike-slip fault — a geological fault on which the movement is along the strike of the fault
- suffice it to say — Suffice it to say or suffice to say is used at the beginning of a statement to indicate that what you are saying is obvious, or that you will only give a short explanation.
- sufficient reason — the principle that nothing happens by pure chance, but that an explanation must always be available
- sulfurated potash — a yellowish-brown mixture consisting mainly of potassium polysulfides and potassium thiosulfate, used in treating mange.
- supreme sacrifice — the sacrifice of one's own life: Many made the supreme sacrifice during the war.
- surface condenser — a device condensing steam or vapor by passing it over a cool surface.
- surface structure — a structural representation of the final syntactic form of a sentence, as it exists after the transformational component has modified a deep structure. Compare deep structure.
- surface treatment — A surface treatment is a process applied to the surface of a material to make it better in some way, for example by making it more resistant to corrosion or wear.
- sustentation fund — a fund, esp in the Church of Scotland, to augment the support of ministers
- sword of damocles — Damocles (def 2).
- take upon oneself — to take the responsibility for; accept as a charge
- take years off sb — If you say that something such as an experience or a way of dressing has taken years off someone, you mean that it has made them look or feel much younger.
- teaching software — computer software for use in providing online education
- temple of artemis — the temple at Ephesus dedicated to Artemis.
- the age of reason — the 18th century in W Europe
- the bag of tricks — every device; everything
- the carboniferous — the Carboniferous period or rock system
- the facts of life — the details of sexual behaviour and reproduction, esp as told to children
- the final whistle — a blast on a referee's whistle to indicate that a game is over
- the life and soul — a person regarded as the main source of merriment and liveliness
- the south pacific — the part of the Pacific Ocean to the south of the equator
- thermal diffusion — the separation of constituents, often isotopes, of a fluid under the influence of a temperature gradient.
- thiosulfuric acid — an acid, H 2 S 2 O 3 , that may be regarded as sulfuric acid with one oxygen atom replaced by sulfur.
- thuringian forest — a forested mountain region in central Germany: a resort area.
- to fan the flames — If someone or something fans the flames of a situation or feeling, usually a bad one, they make it more intense or extreme in some way.
- to feel your oats — to feel exuberant or high-spirited
- to raise the roof — If a group of people inside a building raise the roof, they make a very loud noise, for example by singing or shouting.
- to say nothing of — You use to say nothing of when you mention an additional thing which gives even more strength to the point you are making.
- to show your face — If you show your face somewhere, you go there and see people, although you are not welcome, are rather unwilling to go, or have not been there for some time.