21-letter words containing b, e, s, t, o

posterior probability — the probability assigned to some parameter or to an event on the basis of its observed frequency in a sample, and calculated from a prior probability by Bayes' theorem
potassium bicarbonate — a white, crystalline, slightly alkaline, salty-tasting, water-soluble powder, KHCO 3 , produced by the passage of carbon dioxide through an aqueous potassium carbonate solution: used in cookery as a leavening agent and in medicine as an antacid.
push the panic button — an alarm button for use in an emergency, as to summon help.
put sb out to pasture — If you say that someone is being put out to pasture, you mean they are no longer being employed because they are considered to be too old or no longer useful.
put someone's back up — to annoy someone
rayleigh distribution — (mathematics) A curve that yields a good approximation to the actual labour curves on software projects.
roodepoort-maraisburg — a city in S Transvaal, in the NE Republic of South Africa.
salam-weinberg theory — the electroweak theory.
san gabriel mountains — a mountain range in S California, N of Los Angeles. Highest peak, San Antonio Peak, 10,080 feet (3072 meters).
saponification number — the number of milligrams of potassium hydroxide required to saponify one gram of a given ester, especially a glyceride.
satisficing behaviour — the form of behaviour demonstrated by firms who seek satisfactory profits and satisfactory growth rather than maximum profits
serbia and montenegro — a former country in SE Europe, consisting of the republics of Serbia and Montenegro; replaced the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 2003, and dissolved in 2006 following Montenegro’s decision to secede
single spanish burton — a tackle having a runner as well as the fall supporting the load, giving a mechanical advantage of three, neglecting friction.
sodium metabisulphite — an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Na2S2O5 that is used as a preservative, antioxidant and disinfectant
space shuttle orbiter — orbiter (def 1).
spicebush swallowtail — a swallowtail butterfly, Papilio troilus, having a dark body with yellow spots on the forewings and greenish hind wings.
stabilization-process — the act or process of stabilizing or the state of being stabilized.
steer clear of sb/sth — If you steer clear of someone or something, you deliberately avoid them.
subjective complement — subject complement.
subliminal perception — perception of or reaction to a stimulus that occurs without awareness or consciousness
subsistence allowance — money given in advance to a new soldier, employee, etc., to buy food, clothing, and pay for other necessities while awaiting a first pay.
substitution instance — an expression so derived from another
substitution reaction — the replacement of an atom or group of atoms in a compound by another atom or group.
sympathetic vibration — a vibration induced by resonance.
take sb at their word — If you take someone at their word, you believe what they say, when they did not really mean it or when they meant something slightly different.
take sb/sth seriously — If you take someone or something seriously, you believe that they are important and deserve attention.
tetrabromofluorescein — eosin (def 1).
the barber of seville — Italian Il barbiere di Siviglia. a comic opera (1816) by Gioacchino Rossini based on a comedy (1775) by Beaumarchais.
the best of the bunch — If you say someone or something is the best of the bunch or the pick of the bunch, you mean they are the best of a group of people or things.
the lower vertebrates — relatively simple and primitive vertebrates
the probation service — a criminal justice service that is mainly responsible for dealing with offenders by placing them under the supervision of a probation officer
the sooner the better — You say the sooner the better when you think something should be done as soon as possible.
theater of the absurd — theater in which standard or naturalistic conventions of plot, characterization, and thematic structure are ignored or distorted in order to convey the irrational or fictive nature of reality and the essential isolation of humanity in a meaningless world.
theatre of the absurd — drama in which normal conventions and dramatic structure are ignored or modified in order to present life as irrational or meaningless
think outside the box — to think in a different, innovative, or original manner, esp with regard to business practices, products, systems, etc
throw sb a curve ball — If someone throws you a curve or throws you a curve ball, they surprise you by doing something that you do not expect.
to be a hospital case — if you say that someone or something is a hospital case, you mean that they need urgent help because they are doing very badly
to be arrayed against — to be opposed to
to be hard luck on sb — to be unfortunate or unlucky for someone
to be in dire straits — to be in a position of acute difficulty
to be mixed up in sth — if you are mixed up in something, usually something bad, you are involved in it
to bend someone's ear — If you say that someone is bending your ear about something, you mean that they keep talking to you about it because they think it is important; used especially when you are irritated by this.
to blow sth wide open — to expose something
to box someone's ears — If someone boxes a child's ears, they hit them on the side of their head as a punishment.
to change the subject — When someone involved in a conversation changes the subject, they start talking about something else, often because the previous subject was embarrassing.
to get back to basics — to revert to a simpler method, eg of living or doing business
to hit the bookstands — (of a book) to be published
to lay something bare — If you lay something bare, you uncover it completely so that it can then be seen.
to put one over on sb — If someone puts one over on you, they make you do or believe something by telling you things that are not true.
to put the wind up sb — If something or someone puts the wind up you, they frighten or worry you.

Was this page helpful?

Yes No

Thank you for your feedback! Tell your friends about this page

Tell us why?