16-letter words containing b, t, r
- objective spirit — the human spirit, insofar as it has become capable of a rational identification of its individual self with the community of other spirits but is not yet capable of the identification with the absolute idea that characterizes the absolute spirit.
- oblique triangle — any triangle that does not have a right angle (contrasted with right triangle).
- obsequent stream — a stream flowing in a direction opposite to that of the dip of the local strata.
- observation deck — an area on a high building that is surrounded with railings or fencing and which provides panoramic views
- observation post — a forward position, often on high ground, from which enemy activity can be observed and, particularly, from which artillery or mortar fire can be directed.
- observation ward — a ward in a hospital where patients are monitored
- observationalist — One who relies on empirical observations.
- observationality — The property of being observational.
- obstreperousness — resisting control or restraint in a difficult manner; unruly.
- obstructionistic — a person who deliberately delays or prevents progress.
- obtuse bisectrix — See under bisectrix (def 1).
- october surprise — a major event, occurring shortly before a presidential election, which influences the result
- on a trial basis — for the purpose of assessment
- on the breadline — impoverished; living at subsistence level
- onboard computer — onboard a vehicle, ship, plane, train or spacecraft
- one for the book — a handwritten or printed work of fiction or nonfiction, usually on sheets of paper fastened or bound together within covers.
- one-armed bandit — slot machine (def 1).
- operating budget — money allocated to a project
- orbital velocity — the minimum velocity at which a body must move to maintain a given orbit.
- outboard profile — an exterior side elevation of a vessel, showing all deck structures, rigging, fittings, etc.
- overexcitability — to excite too much.
- oversubscription — to subscribe for more of than is available, expected, or required: The charity drive was oversubscribed by several thousand dollars.
- overurbanization — the act or fact of urbanizing, or taking on the characteristics of a city: Urbanization has led to more air pollution and increasing childhood asthma.
- oxidation number — the state of an element or ion in a compound with regard to the electrons gained or lost by the element or ion in the reaction that formed the compound, expressed as a positive or negative number indicating the ionic charge of the element or ion.
- paint-by-numbers — formulaic; showing no original thought or creativity
- paratuberculosis — Johne's disease.
- pass-band filter — band-pass filter
- peach tree borer — the larva of any of several clearwing moths, as Sanninoidea exitiosa, that bore into the wood of the peach and other drupaceous trees.
- permafrost table — the variable surface constituting the upper limit of permafrost. Compare frostline (def 2).
- personal liberty — the liberty of an individual to do his or her will freely except for those restraints imposed by law to safeguard the physical, moral, political, and economic welfare of others.
- phlebothrombosis — the presence of a thrombus in a vein.
- photograph album — bound book for photos
- pietermaritzburg — a province in the E part of the Republic of South Africa. 35,284 sq. mi. (91,886 sq. km). Capital: Pietermaritzburg.
- pit bull terrier — American Staffordshire terrier.
- planetary nebula — an expanding shell of thin ionized gas that is ejected from and surrounds a hot, dying star of about the same mass as the sun; the gas absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the central star and reemits it as visible light by the process of fluorescence.
- plant bargaining — a form of bargaining within industry, involving either informal small groups of employees or collective agreements at plant level
- platform-balance — a scale with a platform for holding the items to be weighed.
- pocket billiards — pool2 (def 1).
- poor boy sweater — a snug-fitting, pullover sweater with ribbing on both the body and sleeves, worn by girls and women.
- port phillip bay — a bay in SE Australia: the harbor of Melbourne. 31 miles (50 km) long; 25 miles (40 km) wide.
- portable airtime — (communications, wireless) A wireless, digital communications system enabling user-to-user voice communication, "quicknotes", and alphanumeric messaging.
- potato tuberworm — the larva of the potato moth.
- pourriture noble — noble rot.
- powerfully built — (of a person, esp a man) big and physically strong, with large muscles
- pre-subscription — a sum of money given or pledged as a contribution, payment, investment, etc.
- presentation box — a specially designed and attractive box to hold a product, and make it look more impressive
- pro-abolitionist — (especially prior to the Civil War) a person who advocated or supported the abolition of slavery in the U.S.
- projection booth — a soundproof compartment in a theater where a motion-picture projector is housed and from which the picture is projected on the screen.
- prometheus bound — a tragedy (c457 b.c.) by Aeschylus.
- public relations — (used with a plural verb) the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc.