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16-letter words containing c, h, e

  • cathode ray tube — (hardware)   (CRT) An electrical device for displaying images by exciting phosphor dots with a scanned electron beam. CRTs are found in computer VDUs and monitors, televisions and oscilloscopes. The first commercially practical CRT was perfected on 29 January 1901 by Allen B DuMont. A large glass envelope containing a negative electrode (the cathode) emits electrons (formerly called "cathode rays") when heated, as in a vacuum tube. The electrons are accelerated across a large voltage gradient toward the flat surface of the tube (the screen) which is covered with phosphor. When an electron strikes the phosphor, light is emitted. The electron beam is deflected by electromagnetic coils around the outside of the tube so that it scans across the screen, usually in horizontal stripes. This scan pattern is known as a raster. By controlling the current in the beam, the brightness at any particular point (roughly a "pixel") can be varied. Different phosphors have different "persistence" - the length of time for which they glow after being struck by electrons. If the scanning is done fast enough, the eye sees a steady image, due to both the persistence of the phospor and of the eye itself. CRTs also differ in their dot pitch, which determines their spatial resolution, and in whether they use interlace or not.
  • cathode-ray tube — A cathode-ray tube is a device in televisions and computer terminals which sends an image onto the screen.
  • celestial sphere — an imaginary sphere of infinitely large radius enclosing the universe so that all celestial bodies appear to be projected onto its surface
  • centrally heated — A centrally heated building or room has central heating.
  • cepheid variable — any of a class of variable stars with regular cycles of variations in luminosity (most ranging from three to fifty days). There is a relationship between the periods of variation and the absolute magnitudes, which is used for measuring the distance of such stars
  • chafe at the bit — to be impatient or vexed, as because of delay
  • chagas---disease — an infectious disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, occurring chiefly in tropical America and characterized by irregular fever, palpable lymph nodes, and often heart damage.
  • chain-link fence — a type of fence made of a mesh woven from steel wire
  • chalon-sur-saône — an industrial city in E central France, on the Saône River. Pop: 50 124 (1999)
  • chamber of trade — a national organization representing local chambers of commerce
  • champ at the bit — If someone is champing at the bit or is chomping at the bit, they are very impatient to do something, but they are prevented from doing it, usually by circumstances that they have no control over.
  • champagne bucket — A champagne bucket is a container that holds ice cubes or cold water and ice. You can use it to put bottles of champagne in and keep the champagne cool.
  • chance one's arm — to attempt to do something although the chance of success may be slight
  • chancellorsville — hamlet in NE Va. (now called Chancellor): site of a Civil War battle (May, 1863) won by Confederate forces
  • channel crossing — a crossing of the English Channel
  • channel islander — a person who comes from one of the Channel Islands
  • chanson de geste — one of a genre of Old French epic poems celebrating heroic deeds, the most famous of which is the Chanson de Roland
  • character armour — the defence an individual exhibits to others and to himself or herself to disguise his or her underlying weaknesses: a term coined by William Reich
  • character comedy — comedy, or a comedy, in which the main source of humour is in the character of the people represented in it
  • character sketch — a brief description or portrayal of a person's character, qualities, etc
  • character string — a series of characters that can be manipulated as a group, but do not necessarily represent anything
  • characterisation — (British spelling) Alternative form of characterization.
  • characteristical — Also, characteristical. pertaining to, constituting, or indicating the character or peculiar quality of a person or thing; typical; distinctive: Red and gold are the characteristic colors of autumn.
  • characterization — Characterization is the way an author or an actor describes or shows what a character is like.
  • charge to a room — If you charge an item or expense to a room at a hotel, you add it to a guest's final bill so they can pay for it when they check out of the room.
  • chargeable asset — any asset that can give rise to assessment for capital gains tax on its disposal. Exempt assets include principal private residences, cars, investments held in a personal equity plan, and government securities
  • charged particle — an atomic particle with a positive or negative charge, as an electron, proton, or helium ion
  • charitable trust — a trust set up for the benefit of a charity that complies with the regulations of the Charity Commissioners to enable it to be exempt from paying income tax
  • charles chandler — Charles Frederick, 1836–1925, U.S. scientist, educator, and public-health expert.
  • charles coughlin — Charles Edward ("Father Coughlin") 1891–1979, U.S. Roman Catholic priest, activist, radio broadcaster, and editor, born in Canada.
  • charlotte amalie — the capital of the Virgin Islands of the United States, a port on St Thomas Island. Pop: 18 914 (2000)
  • charmed particle — See at charmed (def 2).
  • chase the dragon — to smoke opium or heroin
  • chatsworth house — a mansion near Bakewell in Derbyshire: seat of the Dukes of Devonshire; built (1687–1707) in the classical style
  • chattel mortgage — a mortgage on movable personal property
  • chattel personal — an item of movable personal property, such as furniture, domestic animals, etc
  • chattering class — well-educated members of the upper-middle or upper class who freely express especially liberal opinions or judgments on current issues and events.
  • chechen republic — a constituent republic of S Russia, on the N slopes of the Caucasus Mountains: major oil and natural gas resources; formed an Autonomous Republic with Ingushetia from 1936 until 1944 and from 1957 until 1991; declared independence from Ingushetia in 1992; fighting between Chechen separatists and Russian forces (1994–96) led to de facto independence: reoccupied by Russia in 1999–2000. Capital: Grozny. Pop: 1 100 300 (2002). Area: 15 700 sq km (6010 sq miles)
  • check-in counter — The check-in counter at an airport or hotel is the counter or desk where you check in.
  • checking account — A checking account is a personal bank account which you can take money out of at any time using your cheque book or cash card.
  • checking deposit — a deposit on which cheques may be drawn
  • checkout counter — a checkout
  • cheddar (cheese) — a variety of hard, smooth cheese, mild to very sharp
  • chemical element — chemistry: substance
  • chemical peeling — a cosmetic process in which a substance containing a chemical (esp alpha-hydroxy acids) is applied to the skin of the face and peeled away to remove a layer of dead cells
  • chemical warfare — warfare in which chemicals other than explosives are used as weapons, esp warfare using asphyxiating or nerve gases, poisons, defoliants, etc
  • chemical weapons — toxic chemicals used as weapons
  • chemiluminescent — Of, pertaining to, or employing chemiluminescence.
  • chemoautotrophic — producing organic matter by the use of energy obtained by oxidation of certain chemicals with carbon dioxide as the carbon source
  • chemoheterotroph — an organism that obtains its energy from the oxidation of organic compounds
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