12-letter words containing a, s, o, u
- atmospherium — an optical system used to simulate images of atmospheric phenomena, as cloud formations, storms, and day and night, on the inside of a dome.
- attitudinous — (informal) Having a bold and possibly unfriendly attitude; sassy.
- attributions — Plural form of attribution.
- auction sale — an instance of items being sold by auction
- auction site — a commercial website on which items are sold by internet auction
- audio system — integrated equipment for producing amplified sound, as in a hi-fi or a mobile disco, or as a public-address system on stage
- audio-visual — Audio-visual equipment and materials involve both recorded sound and pictures.
- audiologists — Plural form of audiologist.
- audiovisuals — Plural form of audiovisual.
- auger shower — a shower of electrons, photons, etc. resulting from the collision of primary cosmic rays with atomic nuclei in the atmosphere
- auscultation — the diagnostic technique in medicine of listening to the various internal sounds made by the body, usually with the aid of a stethoscope
- auspiciously — promising success; propitious; opportune; favorable: an auspicious occasion.
- australopith — (archaeology, anthropology, paleonotology) Of or pertaining to the extinct hominid primates, of the genus Australopithecus, from the Pleistocene period.
- austronesian — of or relating to Austronesia, its peoples, or their languages
- auto-erotism — the arousal and satisfaction of sexual excitement within or by oneself, as by masturbation.
- autoanalysis — Psychoanalysis. self-analysis.
- autocatalyse — to cause an internal, self-produced, chemical reaction
- autochangers — Plural form of autochanger.
- autochthones — Alternative spelling of autochthons.
- autodestruct — likely to or possessing the power to destroy or obliterate itself or its possessor
- autodiallers — Plural form of autodialler.
- autoeciously — in an autoecious manner
- autoexposure — A device that sets the exposure automatically on a camera or other piece of equipment.
- autogenously — In an autogenous manner; spontaneously.
- autohypnosis — the process or result of self-induced hypnosis
- automobilism — the use of automobiles, or the practices associated with them
- automobilist — Driver; person who uses a motor vehicle such as car, van or truck.
- automorphism — the practice of seeing others as having the same characteristics as oneself
- autonomously — Government. self-governing; independent; subject to its own laws only. pertaining to an autonomy, or a self-governing community.
- autorickshaw — (in India) a light three-wheeled vehicle driven by a motorcycle engine
- autotheistic — Self-worshiping; prideful in the extreme.
- avariciously — characterized by avarice; greedy; covetous.
- backsolution — The process or result of backsolving.
- balsamaceous — any of various fragrant exudations from certain trees, especially trees of the genus Commiphora, as balm-of-Gilead. Compare balm (def 1).
- barbados nut — an ornamental, tropical American tree, Jatropha curcas, of the spurge family, having ivylike leaves, small, yellow or greenish-yellow flowers, and olive-shaped fruit yielding a purgative, poisonous oil.
- bardolatrous — relating to or characterized by bardolatry
- barge course — the overhang of the gable end of a roof
- barquisimeto — a city in NW Venezuela. Pop: 1 009 000 (2005 est)
- barratrously — In a barratrous manner.
- base bullion — smelted lead containing impurities, as gold, silver, or zinc, that are later removed.
- bashi-bazouk — a member of the notoriously brutal 19th-cent. Turkish irregulars
- bashibazouks — Plural form of bashibazouk.
- basset hound — A basset hound is a dog with short strong legs, a long body, and long ears. It is kept as a pet or used for hunting.
- bastel house — (on the Anglo-Scottish border) a partly fortified house, usually with a vaulted ground floor.
- bathophilous — (of an organism) living in very deep water
- bean sprouts — the sprouts of newly germinated mung beans, eaten as a vegetable, esp in Chinese dishes
- beardtongues — Plural form of beardtongue.
- beaufort sea — part of the Arctic Ocean off the N coast of North America
- beauty salon — A beauty salon is the same as a beauty parlour.
- behaviourism — Behaviourism is the belief held by some psychologists that the only valid method of studying the psychology of people or animals is to observe how they behave.