19-letter words containing c, e, a
- to stick out a mile — If you say that something or someone sticks out a mile or stands out a mile, you are emphasizing that they are very obvious and easy to recognize.
- to take a back seat — If you take a back seat, you allow other people to have all the power and to make all the decisions.
- to take the biscuit — If someone has done something very stupid, rude, or selfish, you can say that they take the biscuit or that what they have done takes the biscuit, to emphasize your surprise at their behaviour.
- to this/that effect — You use to this effect, to that effect, or to the effect that to indicate that you have given or are giving a summary of something that was said or written, and not the actual words used.
- torricellian vacuum — the vacuum at the top of a Torricellian tube
- touch all the bases — to deal with all related details
- traffic engineering — a branch of civil engineering concerned with the design and construction of streets and roads that will best facilitate traffic movement.
- traffic regulations — rules designed to expedite the flow of traffic and prevent collisions
- trahison des clercs — a compromising of intellectual integrity, esp. for political reasons
- transesterification — a reaction between an ester of one alcohol and a second alcohol to form an ester of the second alcohol and an alcohol from the original ester, as that of methyl acetate and ethyl alcohol to form ethyl acetate and methyl alcohol; interesterification.
- transference number — that fraction of the total electric current that anions and cations carry in passing through an electrolytic solution.
- transparent context — an expression in which any term may be replaced by another with the same reference without changing its truth-value
- transuranic element — any element having an atomic number greater than 92, the atomic number of uranium. All such elements are radioactive and can be synthesized by bombarding a heavy element with a light particle or element. See also transactinide element.
- tricalcium silicate — a component of cement, Ca 3 SiO 5 , also used in food to prevent caking.
- trickle bed reactor — A trickle bed reactor is a reactor in which gravity makes a gas and a liquid flow through a bed of catalyst.
- tricks of the trade — expert techniques
- trifacial neuralgia — tic douloureux.
- tropical depression — an atmospheric low-pressure system originating in the tropics, specifically, a tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained wind speed is 38 miles per hour (62 kilometers per hour) or less.
- tuamotu archipelago — a group of about 80 coral islands in the S Pacific, in French Polynesia. Pop: 15 973 (2002; including the Gambier Islands). Area: 860 sq km (332 sq miles)
- tubular steel chair — a chair with a frame made of tubular steel
- tussock caterpillar — the larva of a tussock moth.
- typographical error — an error in printed or typewritten matter resulting from striking the improper key of a keyboard, from mechanical failure, or the like.
- ultracrepidarianism — noting or pertaining to a person who criticizes, judges, or gives advice outside the area of his or her expertise: The play provides a classic, simplistic portrayal of an ultracrepidarian mother-in-law.
- ultrahigh frequency — any frequency between 300 and 3000 megahertz. Abbreviation: UHF, uhf.
- ultramicrochemistry — the branch of microchemistry dealing with minute quantities of material weighing one microgram or less.
- ultrasonic cleaning — the use of ultrasound to vibrate a piece to be cleaned while the piece is immersed in a cleaning fluid. The process produces a very high degree of cleanliness, and is used for jewellery and ornately shaped items
- unclassified degree — a degree that has not been given a grade because it is of a low standard
- under consideration — being deliberated
- universal recipient — a person with blood type AB, able to receive blood from a person of any blood type but able to donate blood only to a person with the same blood type
- university entrance — an examination taken by pupils of postprimary schools
- unnatural practices — acts which are deemed to be contrary to expected standards of human behaviour
- upper carboniferous — Pennsylvanian (defs 2, 4).
- upset the applecart — a pushcart used by a vendor of apples.
- vacuum coffee maker — a coffee pot with upper and lower glass units, the upper for ground coffee and the lower for water that, when boiled, rises through the filter-stoppered bottom of the upper unit and remains there until drawn back down to the lower unit as brewed coffee by a reduction in pressure caused by the removal of heat.
- vaginal intercourse — intercourse involving insertion of the penis into the vagina
- valencian community — region comprising three provinces of E Spain: 8,998 sq mi (23,305 sq km); pop. 4,029,000; cap. Valencia
- vapor recovery unit — A vapor recovery unit is a system for recovering vapors from inside sealed crude oil or condensate tanks, with a scrubber (= a device for removing unwanted substances) and compressor (= a device that raises pressure).
- velocity modulation — the modulation in velocity of a beam of electrons or ions caused by passing the beam through a high-frequency electric field, as in a cavity resonator
- vertical stabilizer — the fixed vertical surface of an aircraft empennage, to which the rudder is hinged.
- vesicular exanthema — an infectious viral disease of swine, characterized by blisters on the snout, mucous membranes, and feet.
- veterinary medicine — the branch of medicine dealing with the study, prevention, and treatment of diseases in animals, especially domesticated animals.
- viatical settlement — the purchase by a charity of a life assurance policy owned by a person with only a short time to live, to enable that person to use the proceeds during his or her lifetime
- vicariate apostolic — a district under the jurisdiction of a vicar apostolic.
- victor emmanuel iii — 1869–1947, king of Italy 1900–46.
- video tape recorder — a device for recording television programs on magnetic tape for delayed transmission or for storage.
- vigilance committee — an unauthorized committee of citizens organized for the maintenance of order and the summary punishment of crime in the absence of regular or efficient courts.
- virginia-rail-fence — snake fence.
- vitamin b (complex) — a group of unrelated water-soluble vitamins found in liver, yeast, etc., including: a) vitamin B1 (see thiamine) b) vitamin B2 (see riboflavin) c) vitamin B6 (see pyridoxine) d) nicotinic acid e) pantothenic acid f) biotin g) inositol h) para-aminobenzoic acid i) choline j) folic acid k) vitamin B12 a complex vitamin, C63H90N14O14PCo, containing trivalent cobalt, essential for the normal maturation of erythrocytes, and for normal growth and neurological function, and used esp. in treating pernicious anemia and as an animal feed supplement
- vocational guidance — the process of assisting a student to choose, prepare for, and enter an occupation for which he or she shows aptitude.
- voltaic electricity — electric current; moving electric charges.