15-letter words containing d, o, u, r, e
- delta reduction — (theory) In lambda-calculus extended with constants, delta reduction replaces a function applied to the required number of arguments (a redex) by a result. E.g. plus 2 3 --> 5. In contrast with beta reduction (the only kind of reduction in the pure lambda-calculus) the result is not formed simply by textual substitution of arguments into the body of a function. Instead, a delta redex is matched against the left hand side of all delta rules and is replaced by the right hand side of the (first) matching rule. There is notionally one delta rule for each possible combination of function and arguments. Where this implies an infinite number of rules, the result is usually defined by reference to some external system such as mathematical addition or the hardware operations of some computer. For other types, all rules can be given explicitly, for example Boolean negation: not True = False not False = True (1997-02-20)
- deoch-an-doruis — a parting drink or stirrup cup
- departure board — a board in an airport, bus terminal, etc displaying the times and destinations of future departures
- derequisitioned — Simple past tense and past participle of derequisition.
- dessertspoonful — You can refer to an amount of food resting on a dessertspoon as a dessertspoonful of food.
- destruct button — a button that, when pressed, causes a missile or rocket to destruct
- desulfurization — The process of removing sulfur from a substance, such as flue gas or crude.
- deuteranomalous — having deuteranomaly; relating to deuteranomaly
- deuterium oxide — heavy water.
- deuteronomistic — one of the writers of material used in the early books of the Old Testament.
- direct coupling — conductive coupling between electronic circuits, as opposed to inductive or capacitative coupling
- direct question — interrogative sentence
- discount broker — an agent who discounts commercial paper.
- discount market — a trading market in which notes, bills, and other negotiable instruments are discounted.
- do one's number — a numeral or group of numerals.
- do your head in — If something or someone does your head in, they make you angry or frustrated.
- document reader — a device that reads and inputs into a computer marks and characters on a special form, as by optical or magnetic character recognition
- domain squatter — (web) An unscrupulous person who registers a domain name in the hope of selling it to the rightful, expected owner at a profit. E.g. http://foldoc.com/.
- domitae naturae — (of animals) tamed or domesticated (distinguished from ferae naturae).
- double concerto — a concerto for two solo instruments
- double entendre — a double meaning.
- double exposure — the act of exposing the same film, frame, plate, etc., twice.
- double in brass — twice as large, heavy, strong, etc.; twofold in size, amount, number, extent, etc.: a double portion; a new house double the size of the old one.
- double integral — an integral in which the integrand involves a function of two variables and that requires two applications of the integration process to evaluate.
- double jeopardy — the subjecting of a person to a second trial or punishment for the same offense for which the person has already been tried or punished.
- double or quits — twice as large, heavy, strong, etc.; twofold in size, amount, number, extent, etc.: a double portion; a new house double the size of the old one.
- double printing — the exposure of the same positive photographic emulsion to two or more negatives, resulting in the superimposition of multiple images after development
- double standard — any code or set of principles containing different provisions for one group of people than for another, especially an unwritten code of sexual behavior permitting men more freedom than women. Compare single standard (def 1).
- double-barreled — having two barrels mounted side by side, as a shotgun.
- double-breasted — (of a coat, jacket, etc.) overlapping sufficiently in front to allow for two rows of buttons.
- double-entendre — a double meaning.
- doublet pattern — a pattern, as on a fabric, in which a figure or group is duplicated in reverse order on the opposite side of a centerline.
- dougherty wagon — a horse- or mule-drawn passenger wagon having doors on the side, transverse seats, and canvas sides that can be rolled down.
- draft-mule work — drudgery
- draw oneself up — to assume a straighter posture; stand or sit straight
- drive-up window — a window through which customers are served at a drive-through facility.
- droste-hulshoff — Annette Elisabeth Freiin von [ah-net-uh ey-lee-zah-bet frahy-in fuh n] /ɑˈnɛt ə eɪˈli zɑˌbɛt ˈfraɪ ɪn fən/ (Show IPA), 1797–1848, German poet.
- durchkomponiert — having a different tune for each section rather than having repeated melodies
- duty to retreat — a legal principle that requires a person as a first response to back away or flee from a threatening situation rather than attempt self-defense by deadly force: Duty to retreat has always been a debatable doctrine.
- dyer's woodruff — a European plant, Asperula tinctoria, of the madder family, having red or pinkish-white flowers and red roots.
- echinodermatous — belonging or pertaining to the echinoderms.
- edmund randolph — A(sa) Philip, 1889–1979, U.S. labor leader: president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters 1925–68.
- edriophthalmous — (of certain crustaceans) having stalkless eyes
- elastic rebound — a theory of earthquakes that envisages gradual deformation of the fault zone without fault slippage until friction is overcome, when the fault suddenly slips to produce the earthquake
- eleutherodactyl — (of a bird) having the hind toe free
- epsilon squared — (jargon) A quantity even smaller than epsilon, as small in comparison to epsilon as epsilon is to something normal; completely negligible. If you buy a supercomputer for a million dollars, the cost of the thousand-dollar terminal to go with it is epsilon, and the cost of the ten-dollar cable to connect them is epsilon squared. Compare lost in the underflow, lost in the noise.
- eudiometrically — By means of or in terms of eudiometry.
- eureka stockade — a violent incident in Ballarat, Australia, in 1854 between gold miners and the military, as a result of which the miners won their democratic rights in the state parliament
- eurocheque card — a card that must be shown along with Eurocheques when using them to pay for goods or services. Eurocheque cards were withdrawn in 2002
- exclusion order — law: ban spouse from home