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14-letter words containing b, c, e

  • beta reduction — [lambda-calculus] The application of a lambda abstraction to an argument expression. A copy of the body of the lambda abstraction is made and occurrences of the bound variable being replaced by the argument. E.g. (\ x . x+1) 4 --> 4+1 Beta reduction is the only kind of reduction in the pure lambda-calculus. The opposite of beta reduction is beta abstraction. These are the two kinds of beta conversion. See also name capture.
  • beta structure — a secondary structure occurring in many proteins, consisting of several polypeptide chains running in parallel or alternating directions and joined by intermolecular hydrogen bonds, creating a flexible, strong arrangement.
  • betting office — a licensed bookmaker's premises not on a racecourse where bets can be placed on horses, teams, and other competitors
  • beyond compare — If you describe something as beyond compare, you mean that it is extremely good or extremely great.
  • bezier surface — (graphics)   A surface defined by mathematical formulae, used in computer graphics. A surface P(u, v), where u and v vary orthogonally from 0 to 1 from one edge of the surface to the other, is defined by a set of (n+1)*(m+1) "control points" (X(i, j), Y(i, j), Z(i, j)) for i = 0 to n, j = 0 to m.
  • bib and tucker — an outfit of clothes (esp in the phrase best bib and tucker)
  • biceps brachii — See under biceps.
  • biceps femoris — See under biceps.
  • bicuspid valve — mitral valve
  • bicycle-racing — the act or sport of riding or traveling by bicycle, motorcycle, etc.
  • bidialectalism — the state of being bidialectal
  • big red switch — (jargon)   (BRS) IBM jargon for the power switch on a computer, especially the "Emergency Pull" switch on an IBM mainframe or the power switch on an IBM PC where it really is large and red. "This [email protected]%$% bitty box is hung again; time to hit the Big Red Switch." It is alleged that the emergency pull switch on an IBM 360/91 actually fired a non-conducting bolt into the main power feed; the BRSes on more recent mainframes physically drop a block into place so that they can't be pushed back in. People get fired for pulling them, especially inappropriately (see also molly-guard). Compare power cycle, three-finger salute, 120 reset; see also scram switch.
  • binary counter — (electronics, hardware)   A digital circuit which has a clock input and a number of count outputs which give the number of clock cycles. The output may change either on rising or falling clock edges. The circuit may also have a reset input which sets all outputs to zero when asserted. The counter may be either a synchronous counter or a ripple counter.
  • binary package — (software)   An archive file that contains all files and directories that must be installed in order to make a working installation of the program(s) included in the package, and the maintainer scripts necessary for the installation. A binary package is usually specific to a certain platform, in contrast to a source package.
  • bioaeronautics — the use of aircraft in the discovery, development, and protection of natural and biological resources
  • bioarchaeology — the branch of archaeology that deals with the remains of living things
  • biocontainment — the confinement, as by sealed-off chambers, of materials that are harmful or potentially harmful to life.
  • biocybernetics — the branch of cybernetics that deals with the control and communication systems of living organisms
  • bioelectricity — electricity generated by a living organism
  • bioelectronics — a branch of electronics that deals with electronic devices, implants, etc. used in medicine and biological research
  • bioequivalence — the equality of strength, bioavailability, and dosage of various drug products
  • biogeochemical — of or relating to biogeochemistry
  • bioluminescent — the production of light by living organisms.
  • biomathematics — the study of the application of mathematics to biology
  • biometric risk — Biometric risk covers all risks related to human life conditions, such as death, birth, disability, age, and number of children.
  • bioprospecting — searching for plant or animal species for use as a source of commercially exploitable products, such as medicinal drugs
  • biosystematics — the study of the variation and evolution of a population of organisms in relation to their taxonomic classification
  • bircher muesli — a type of muesli containing softened oats, dried fruit, and apple
  • birdcage clock — lantern clock.
  • biscuit barrel — an airtight container of circular section equipped with a lid and used for storing biscuits
  • bitter cassava — a species of cassava (Manihot esculenta) whose poisonous roots when processed yield tapioca starch
  • black and blue — discolored, as by bruising; exhibiting ecchymosis: a black-and-blue mark on my knee.
  • black basaltes — basaltware.
  • black bindweed — a twining polygonaceous European plant, Polygonum convolvulus, with heart-shaped leaves and triangular black seed pods
  • black bullhead — a common freshwater catfish, Ictalurus melas, of North America, considered by some to be a food delicacy.
  • black mulberry — a small deciduous tree, Morus nigra, with small leaves, producing edible fruit
  • black panthers — (in the US) a militant Black political party founded in 1965 to end the political dominance of White people
  • black redstart — a small, Passerine bird, Phoenicurus ochruros, found in Central and S Europe
  • black sea bass — an American coastal percoid fish, Centropristes striatus, having an elongated body with a long spiny dorsal fin almost divided into two
  • black selenium — an allotropic form of selenium occurring as a black, amorphous, water-insoluble, light-sensitive powder: used chiefly in photoelectric cells.
  • black squirrel — a fox squirrel or gray squirrel in that color phase in which the fur is black.
  • black-and-blue — (of the skin) discoloured, as from a bruise
  • black-eyed pea — Black-eyed peas are beige seeds with black marks that are eaten as a vegetable. They are from a plant called the cowpea.
  • bladder cancer — any cancer of the bladder
  • blanket stitch — a strong reinforcing stitch for the edges of blankets and other thick material
  • blanket-stitch — a basic sewing stitch in which widely spaced, interlocking loops, or purls, are formed, used for cutwork, as a decorative finish for edges, etc.
  • bletchley park — the Buckinghamshire estate which was the centre of British code-breaking operations during World War II
  • blister copper — an impure form of copper having a blister-like surface due to the release of gas during cooling
  • blister-packed — presented in a blister pack
  • bloc québécois — (in Canada) a political party that advocates autonomy for Quebec
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