20-letter words containing c, r, a, f, t

curry favour with sb — If one person tries to curry favour with another, they do things in order to try to gain their support or co-operation.
data dictionary file — (database) (DDF) A set of files describing the structure of a database file. DDFs define database tables and include information about file locations, field layouts and indexes. DDFs are the standard method for defining field and index characteristics for Btrieve files.
de facto segregation — racial, ethnic, or other segregation resulting from societal differences between groups, as socioeconomic or political disparity, without institutionalized legislation intended to segregate.
dichloroethyl formal — a colorless liquid, C 5 H 10 O 2 Cl 2 , used chiefly as a solvent and in the manufacture of certain synthetic rubbers.
differential pricing — a situation in which different prices are charged for the same product or service
dirac delta function — delta function.
district of columbia — a federal area in the E United States, on the Potomac, coextensive with the federal capital, Washington. 69 sq. mi. (179 sq. km). Abbreviation: DC (for use with zip code), D.C.
ecological footprint — a mark left by the shod or unshod foot, as in earth or sand.
edward the confessor — Saint, 1002?–66, English king 1042–66: founder of Westminster Abbey.
effective resistance — the resistance to an alternating current, expressed as the ratio of the power dissipated to the square of the effective current.
efficiency apartment — a small apartment consisting typically of a combined living room and bedroom area, a bathroom, and a kitchenette.
embryo vitrification — a method of in vitro fertilization in which the embryo is exposed to a vitreous solution and frozen before being thawed and implanted into the uterus
entry qualifications — the qualifications people wishing to enter an organization, university, etc, have to have
erythema infectiosum — a mild infectious disease of childhood, caused by a virus, characterized by fever and a red rash spreading from the cheeks to the limbs and trunk
exercise, left as an — Used to complete a proof in technical books when one doesn't mind a handwave, or to avoid one entirely. The complete phrase is: "The proof [or "the rest"] is left as an exercise for the reader." This comment *has* occasionally been attached to unsolved research problems by authors possessed of either an evil sense of humour or a vast faith in the capabilities of their audiences.
factor in (or into) — to include as a factor
factor of production — any instrument, agent, etc., employed in the production of goods and services.
fast-breeder reactor — a breeder reactor in which there is no moderator and fission is caused by high-energy neutrons.
father of the chapel — (in British trade unions in the publishing and printing industries) a shop steward
feast of tabernacles — Sukkoth.
feather in one's cap — one of the horny structures forming the principal covering of birds, consisting typically of a hard, tubular portion attached to the body and tapering into a thinner, stemlike portion bearing a series of slender, barbed processes that interlock to form a flat structure on each side.
federal constitution — Constitution of the United States.
fermentation alcohol — alcohol (def 1).
fermentation-alcohol — Also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, ethanol, fermentation alcohol. a colorless, limpid, volatile, flammable, water-miscible liquid, C 2 H 5 OH, having an etherlike odor and pungent, burning taste, the intoxicating principle of fermented liquors, produced by yeast fermentation of certain carbohydrates, as grains, molasses, starch, or sugar, or obtained synthetically by hydration of ethylene or as a by-product of certain hydrocarbon syntheses: used chiefly as a solvent in the extraction of specific substances, in beverages, medicines, organic synthesis, lotions, tonics, colognes, rubbing compounds, as an automobile radiator antifreeze, and as a rocket fuel. Compare denatured alcohol, methyl alcohol.
file descriptor leak — (programming) (Or "fd leak" /F D leek/) A kind of programming bug analogous to a core leak, in which a program fails to close file descriptors ("fd"s) after file operations are completed, and thus eventually runs out of them. See leak.
financial controller — a senior executive in usually commercial organization who is in charge of financial affairs and oversees such things as the preparation of budgets and accounts
financial instrument — A financial instrument is a document or contract that can be traded in a market, that represents an asset to one party and a liability or equity to the other.
firearms certificate — a certificate that entitles the holder to own and keep a firearm
first earl of cromer — 1st Earl of, Evelyn Baring.
first-cause argument — an argument for the existence of God, asserting the necessity of an uncaused cause of all subsequent series of causes, on the assumption that an infinite regress is impossible.
fission-track dating — the dating of samples of minerals by comparing the tracks in them by fission fragments of the uranium nuclei they contain, before and after irradiation by neutrons
fixed action pattern — a highly stereotyped pattern of behavior that is characteristic of a particular species.
fixed-price contract — a contract in which the price is preset and invariable, regardless of the actual costs of production.
fixed-rate financing — a loan system in which the amount paid back does not fluctuate according to interest rated
flat-plate collector — a type of solar collector consisting of a series of flat glass or plastic plates with black metal surfaces that absorb solar energy.
flight data recorder — a recording device that records relevant data during an aircraft's flight
florence nightingale — Florence ("the Lady with the Lamp") 1820–1910, English nurse: reformer of hospital conditions and procedures; reorganizer of nurse's training programs.
for sb's delectation — If you do something for someone's delectation, you do it to give them enjoyment or pleasure.
fractionating column — a long vertical cylinder used in fractional distillation, in which internal reflux enables separation of high and low boiling fractions to take place
freefall parachuting — a variety of parachuting in which the jumper manoeuvres in free fall before opening the parachute
frequency modulation — FM.
front-to-back engine — an engine in which the crankshaft is arranged front to back along the axis of the vehicle
frontenac et palluau — Comte de (Louis de Buade) 1620?–98, French governor of New France 1672–82, 1689–98.
frosting on the cake — a sweet mixture, cooked or uncooked, for coating or filling cakes, cookies, and the like; icing.
fulminate of mercury — a gray, crystalline solid, Hg(CNO) 2 , used chiefly in the manufacture of commercial and military detonators.
fundamental particle — elementary particle.
fundamental research — research carried out to deepen understanding of the fundamental or basic principles of something
hydraulic fracturing — a process in which fractures in rocks below the earth's surface are opened and widened by injecting chemicals and liquids at high pressure: used especially to extract natural gas or oil.
in flagrante delicto — Law. in the very act of committing the offense.
information exchange — discussion that involves exchanging ideas and knowledge

Was this page helpful?

Yes No

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

Tell us why?