14-letter words containing a, u, p
- opt-out clause — a clause that permits signatories to a contract to opt out of particular provisions, or to terminate the contract early
- orphans' court — a probate court in certain U.S. states.
- outperformance — The act or state of outperforming.
- overparticular — precise beyond necessity
- overpersuasion — the act or instance of overpersuading someone
- overpopulation — to fill with an excessive number of people, straining available resources and facilities: Expanding industry has overpopulated the western suburbs.
- pachydermatous — of, relating to, or characteristic of pachyderms.
- painted beauty — a butterfly, Vanessa virginiensis, having brownish-black and orange wings, the hind wings each having two eyespots.
- painted tongue — a Chilean plant, Salpiglossis sinuata, of the nightshade family, having large, funnel-shaped flowers in a variety of colors.
- painted turtle — a freshwater turtle, Chrysemys picta, common in the U.S., having bright yellow markings on the head and neck and red markings on the margin of the carapace.
- pancake makeup — a cosmetic or theatrical makeup made of a soluble, matte powder compressed into a thin cake and typically applied with a damp sponge
- panther fungus — a highly poisonous mushroom, Amanita pantherina, with a brownish cap covered with white cottony patches.
- paper industry — the industry of manufacturing and selling paper
- paper mulberry — a mulberry tree, Broussonetia papyrifera, of eastern Asia, having alternate leaves that vary in size, round catkins, and orange-red fruit, grown widely as a shade tree.
- paper nautilus — any dibranchiate cephalopod of the genus Argonauta, the female of which has a delicate, white shell.
- paper-shuffler — a person who has a routine desk job.
- papilionaceous — having an irregular corolla shaped somewhat like a butterfly, as the pea and other leguminous plants.
- papillomavirus — any of several viruses of the family Papovaviridae, containing circular DNA, causing papillomas in various animals and responsible for human genital warts.
- para-toluidine — a white, flaky, lustrous, very slightly water-soluble solid, C 7 H 9 N, the para isomer of toluidine, used in the manufacture of dyes, in organic synthesis, and as a reagent in tests for nitrite, lignin, and phloroglucinol.
- parachute jump — leaping from aircraft with a parachute
- parajournalism — news reportage that strongly reflects the point of view of the writer or editor or that uses techniques not practiced in conventional journalism.
- paralinguistic — of or relating to paralanguage or paralinguistics.
- parallel ruler — a drawing instrument in which two parallel edges are connected so that they remain parallel, although the distance between them can be varied
- parenchymatous — Botany. the fundamental tissue of plants, composed of thin-walled cells able to divide.
- parish council — local administrative body
- park chung hee — 1917–79, South Korean politician: president 1963–79 (assassinated).
- parquet circle — parterre (def 1).
- parsimoniously — characterized by or showing parsimony; frugal or stingy.
- parti-coloured — having different colours in different parts; variegated
- partial vacuum — an enclosed space from which part of the air or another gas has been removed.
- particularized — individualized
- particularness — the quality of being exceptional or individual
- parturifacient — inducing or accelerating labor, or childbirth; oxytocic.
- pas de bourree — a short running step.
- passion sunday — the fifth Sunday in Lent, being the second week before Easter.
- pasteur effect — the inhibiting of fermentation by oxygen.
- pasteurellosis — hemorrhagic septicemia.
- pasteurization — to expose (a food, as milk, cheese, yogurt, beer, or wine) to an elevated temperature for a period of time sufficient to destroy certain microorganisms, as those that can produce disease or cause spoilage or undesirable fermentation of food, without radically altering taste or quality.
- paternity suit — legal dispute over identity of father
- pauper's grave — a grave paid for at public expense because the deceased person's family could not afford one
- pay one's dues — owed at present; having reached the date for payment: This bill is due.
- peanut allergy — a condition of being hypersensitive to peanuts and peanut substances which can lead to severe physical symptoms if peanuts or peanut substances are consumed
- peanut gallery — Informal. the rearmost and cheapest section of seats in the balcony or the uppermost balcony of a theater.
- penalty clause — part of contract specifying a forfeit
- penalty double — business double.
- pendulum watch — (formerly) a watch having a balance wheel, especially a balance wheel bearing a fake pendulum bob oscillating behind a window in the dial.
- peninsular war — the war (1808–14) fought in the Iberian Peninsula by British, Portuguese, and Spanish forces against the French, resulting in the defeat of the French: part of the Napoleonic Wars
- pennatulaceous — of or relating to a sea pen
- penny dreadful — a cheap, sensational novel of adventure, crime, or violence; dime novel.
- penny-dreadful — a cheap, sensational novel of adventure, crime, or violence; dime novel.