15-letter words containing d, i, s, l
- file descriptor — (programming, operating system) An integer that identifies an open file within a process. This number is obtained as a result of opening a file. Operations which read, write, or close a file would take the file descriptor as an input parameter. In many operating system implementations, file descriptors are small integers which index a table of open files. In Unix, file descriptors 0, 1 and 2 correspond to the standard input, standard output and standard error files respectively. See file descriptor leak.
- first world war — World War I.
- fit as a fiddle — a musical instrument of the viol family.
- fixed satellite — a satellite in a geostationary orbit
- flavourdynamics — as in quantum flavour dynamics, a mathematical model used to describe the interaction of flavoured particles (weak force) through the exchange of intermediate vector bosons
- flight of ideas — a rapid flow of thought, manifested by accelerated speech with abrupt changes from topic to topic: a symptom of some mental illnesses, especially manic disorder.
- flinders island — an island off the coast of NE Tasmania: the largest of the Furneaux Islands. Pop: 850 (2004 est). Area: 2077 sq km (802 sq miles)
- floating island — a dessert consisting of boiled custard with portions of meringue, whipped cream, or whipped egg whites and sometimes jelly floating upon it or around it.
- floating screed — Building Trades. screed (def 3).
- flood insurance — insurance covering loss or damage to property arising from a flood, flood tide, or the like.
- fluid mechanics — an applied science dealing with the basic principles of gaseous and liquid matter.
- fluoridationist — One who supports the addition of fluoride to the public water supply.
- fool's paradise — a state of enjoyment based on false beliefs or hopes; a state of illusory happiness.
- foundationalism — (epistemology) The doctrine that beliefs derive justification from certain basic beliefs.
- frisian islands — a chain of islands in the North Sea along the coasts of the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark: separated from the mainland by shallows
- fully fashioned — (of stockings, knitwear, etc) shaped and seamed so as to fit closely
- fundamentalists — Plural form of fundamentalist.
- gallant soldier — a South American plant, Galinsoga parviflora, widely distributed as a weed, having small daisy-like flowers surrounded by silvery scales: family Asteraceae (composites)
- gambier islands — a group of islands in the S Pacific Ocean, in French Polynesia. Chief settlement: Rikitéa. Pop: 1097 (2002). Area: 30 sq km (11 sq miles)
- gardening tools — tools used for gardening, such as a trowel, spade, rake, etc
- gender politics — debate about the roles and relations of men and women
- general studies — a school subject that includes a variety of skills and topics (such as comprehension, and current affairs, which may complement the study of A-levels in specific subjects)
- gilbert islands — a group of islands in the W Pacific: with Banaba, the Phoenix Islands, and three of the Line Islands they constitute the independent state of Kiribati; until 1975 they formed part of the British colony of Gilbert and Ellice Islands; achieved full independence in 1979. Pop: 82 902 (2005). Area: 295 sq km (114 sq miles)
- girdle traverse — a climb that consists of a complete traverse of a face or crag
- globus pallidus — anatomy: part of the brain
- glucocorticoids — Plural form of glucocorticoid.
- go into details — If someone does not go into details about a subject, or does not go into the detail, they mention it without explaining it fully or properly.
- golden samphire — a Eurasian coastal plant, Inula crithmoides, with fleshy leaves and yellow flower heads: family Asteraceae (composites)
- golden starfish — an award given to a bathing beach that meets EU standards of cleanliness
- goldilocks zone — a zone around a star having temperatures and other conditions that can support life on planets: Mars is thought to lie on the outer edge of the sun's Goldilocks zone.
- good-fellowship — a pleasant, convivial spirit; comradeship; geniality.
- gorlin syndrome — a rare congenital disorder in which cancer destroys the facial skin and causes blindness; skeletal anomalies can also occur
- graphic display — the way in which line drawings and text are displayed
- greenfield site — a site located in a rural area which has not previously been built on
- grimes (golden) — a yellow autumn eating apple
- griqualand east — a former district in S South Africa, SW of Natal.
- griqualand west — a former district in S South Africa, N of the Orange River and W of the Orange Free State: diamonds found 1867.
- ground squirrel — any of several terrestrial rodents of the squirrel family, as of the genus Citellus and chipmunks of the genus Tamias. circ;circ;
- guardian angels — an angel believed to protect a particular person, as from danger or error.
- guild socialism — a form of socialism developed in England in the 20th century, emphasizing decentralization of industry and services with control to be vested in autonomous guilds of workers.
- hamamelidaceous — belonging to the Hamamelidaceae, the witch hazel family of plants.
- hardship clause — a clause in a contract which covers unforeseen events that would make it more difficult for one party to complete the contract, and in which case offers alternative terms
- harun al-rashid — a.d. 764?–809, caliph of Baghdad 786–809: one of the greatest Abbasids, he was made almost a legendary hero in the Arabian Nights.
- hazard analysis — risk assessment
- head-up display — an electronic display of data from instruments or other sources projected at eye level so that a driver or pilot sees it without looking away from the road or course. Abbreviation: HUD.
- heads will roll — If you say that heads will roll as a result of something bad that has happened, you mean that people will be punished for it, especially by losing their jobs.
- heaviside layer — E layer.
- hendecasyllabic — having 11 syllables.
- heralds' office — the official heraldic authority of Scotland.
- holiday clothes — the clothes worn and bought for travelling on holiday, such as swimwear, skiwear, or clothes for hot or cold weather, etc