18-letter words containing a, s, o, p, t

spaghetti junction — an interchange, usually between motorways, in which there are a large number of underpasses and overpasses and intersecting roads used by a large volume of high-speed traffic
special collection — a collection of materials segregated from a general library collection according to form, subject, age, condition, rarity, source, or value.
special prosecutor — (formerly) an independent counsel.
spectroheliography — the process of obtaining an image of the sun in light of a particular wavelength, such as calcium or hydrogen, showing the distribution of the element over the surface and in the solar atmosphere, using a spectroheliograph
spectropolarimeter — an instrument for determining the extent to which plane-polarized light of various wavelengths is rotated by certain solutions, consisting of a combination of a spectroscope and a polarimeter.
spectropolariscope — an instrument combining the functions of a spectroscope with those of a polariscope.
sperry corporation — (company) The company which merged with the Burroughs Corporation to form Unisys Corporation. Divisions included Sperry Univac, Sperry Flight Systems, and others. Some of these were sold off after the merger.
spherical geometry — the branch of geometry that deals with figures on spherical surfaces.
spike-tooth harrow — a harrow equipped with straight teeth on horizontal bars, usually employed to smooth and level plowed soil or seedbeds for planting or sowing.
spin stabilization — a technique by which a bullet, rocket, etc, is made to spin around its longitudinal axis to assist it in maintaining a steady flight path
spirits of ammonia — a 10% solution of ammonia in alcohol
spotted flycatcher — a European woodland songbird, Muscicapa striata, with a greyish-brown streaked plumage: family Muscicapidae (Old World flycatchers)
statutory sick pay — the pay an employee is legally entitled to when sick
stepping-off place — jumping-off place (def 2).
stroustrup, bjarne — Bjarne Stroustrup
subatomic particle — physics:
super giant slalom — a slalom race in which the course is longer and has more widely spaced gates than in a giant slalom.
super royal octavo — a book size, 63⁄4 by 101⁄4 inches
super royal quarto — a book size, 101⁄4 by 131⁄2 inches
supporting actress — an actress playing a supporting role
supportive therapy — any treatment, such as the intravenous administration of certain fluids, designed to reinforce or sustain the physiological well-being of a patient
supraorbital ridge — browridge.
sustaining program — a radio or television program without a commercial sponsor.
symphony orchestra — a large orchestra composed of wind, string, and percussion instruments and organized to perform symphonic compositions.
system-programming — a program, as an operating system, compiler, or utility program, that controls some aspect of the operation of a computer (opposed to application program).
systematic phoneme — a phonological unit in generative phonology representing an underlying form that takes into account the relationship between phonological patterns and morphological variation, as the unit underlying the second vowel in both derive and derivative.
systems programmer — a person whose job is to program systems software
take the wraps off — to reveal
television company — a company that broadcasts programmes by television
temporal summation — the act or process of summing.
temporary hardness — hardness of water due to the presence of magnesium and calcium hydrogencarbonates, which can be precipitated as carbonates by boiling
the heavens opened — it started pouring with rain
the lords temporal — (in Britain) peers other than bishops in their capacity as members of the House of Lords
the palmetto state — a nickname for South Carolina
the powers that be — You can refer to people in authority as the powers that be, especially when you want to say that you disagree with them or do not understand what they say or do.
thiosulphuric acid — an unstable acid known only in solutions and in the form of its salts. Formula: H2S2O3
to all appearances — apparently
to cast aspersions — If you cast aspersions on someone or something, you suggest that they are not very good in some way.
to get a bad press — If someone or something gets a bad press, they are criticized, especially in the newspapers, on television, or on radio. If they get a good press, they are praised.
to learn the ropes — If you are learning the ropes, you are learning how a particular task or job is done.
to lick into shape — If you lick, knock, or whip someone or something into shape, you use whatever methods are necessary to change or improve them so that they are in the condition that you want them to be in.
to pick and choose — If you pick and choose, you carefully choose only things that you really want and reject the others.
to play favourites — to display favouritism
to pull a fast one — If you say that someone has pulled a fast one on you, you mean that they have cheated or tricked you.
to put years on sb — if you say that something such as an experience or a way of dressing has put years on someone, you mean that it has made them look or feel much older
to scrape a living — If you say that someone scrapes a living or scratches a living, you mean that they manage to earn enough to live on, but it is very difficult. In American English, you say they scrape out a living or scratch out a living.
to speak your mind — If you speak your mind, you say firmly and honestly what you think about a situation, even if this may offend or upset people.
to spill the beans — If you spill the beans, you tell someone something that people have been trying to keep secret.
to stop at nothing — If you say that someone will stop at nothing to get something, you are emphasizing that they are willing to do things that are extreme, wrong, or dangerous in order to get it.
to sweep the board — If someone sweeps the board in a competition or election, they win nearly everything that it is possible to win.

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