13-letter words containing e, l, i, p, s
- special-order — to obtain by specific individual order: to special-order a dining-room chandelier.
- specialities' — specialty.
- spectral line — a line in a spectrum due to the absorption or emission of light at a discrete frequency.
- speculatively — pertaining to, of the nature of, or characterized by speculation, contemplation, conjecture, or abstract reasoning: a speculative approach.
- speech clinic — a place at which specialists in speech therapy reeducate those with a speech handicap.
- speech island — a speech community that is completely surrounded by another, usually larger, speech community.
- speed dialing — to dial (a telephone number) using speed dial.
- speed walking — power walking.
- spelling book — an elementary textbook or manual to teach spelling
- spelling-book — a person who spells words.
- sphingomyelin — any of the class of phospholipids occurring chiefly in the brain and spinal cord, composed of phosphoric acid, choline, sphingosine, and a fatty acid.
- spice islands — the Moluccas
- spider flower — cleome
- spindleshanks — spindlelegs.
- spine-chiller — a book, film, etc, that arouses terror
- spinning mule — mule1 (def 7).
- spinning reel — a fishing reel mounted on a spinning rod, having a stationary spool on the side of which is a revolving metal arm that catches the line and winds it onto the spool as a handle is turned, the metal arm being disengaged during casting so the line spirals freely off the spool, carried by the cast lure.
- spinuliferous — relating to a spine or spines
- spiny lobster — any of several edible crustaceans of the family Palinuridae, differing from the true lobsters in having a spiny shell and lacking the large pincers.
- spiral nebula — (formerly) a spiral galaxy.
- splatter film — a film containing many scenes of violent and gruesome murders.
- splendiferous — splendid; magnificent; fine.
- splenectomize — to remove the spleen from
- splenial bone — a small bone in the lower jaw of some animals, such as reptiles and birds
- split spindle — a turned piece halved lengthwise for use as applied ornament, as on a chest or cupboard, or as part of a chair back or the like.
- splutteringly — in a spluttering manner
- spoiler party — a third political party formed to draw votes away from one of the two major parties, thus spoiling its chance of winning an election.
- spoils system — the system or practice in which public offices with their emoluments and advantages are at the disposal of the victorious party for its own purposes.
- sporopollenin — an inert, tough polymer forming the resistant outer coat of a pollen grain or spore.
- sportsmanlike — a man who engages in sports, especially in some open-air sport, as hunting, fishing, racing, etc.
- spreadability — capable of being spread; easily spread: a soft, spreadable cheese.
- sprightliness — animated or vivacious; lively.
- spring a leak — to develop a leak
- spring valley — a city in SW California, near San Diego.
- spring-loaded — (of a machine part) kept normally in a certain position by a spring: a spring-loaded safety valve.
- sprint medley — a medley relay in which the first member of a team runs 440 yards, the second and third members run 220 yards each, and the fourth member runs 880 yards.
- spurge family — the large plant family Euphorbiaceae, characterized by herbaceous plants, shrubs, and trees having milky juice, simple alternate leaves or no leaves, usually petalless flowers often with showy bracts, and capsular fruit, and including cassava, croton, crown-of-thorns, poinsettia, snow-on-the-mountain, spurge, and the plants that produce castor oil, rubber, and tung oil.
- spy satellite — an orbiting satellite used to carry out surveillance of an enemy country or military formations from space
- square splice — a scarf joint between two pieces, having the form of a half-lap joint with a thicker and a thinner section for each piece, the thicker one being at the end: used to resist tension.
- stader splint — a splint consisting of an adjustable metal rod with a steel pin at either end for insertion in the bone above and below a fracture.
- state capitol — the building which houses the government of a state
- stereotypical — a process, now often replaced by more advanced methods, for making metal printing plates by taking a mold of composed type or the like in papier-mâché or other material and then taking from this mold a cast in type metal.
- stirpiculture — the production of special stocks or strains by careful breeding.
- string player — a person who plays an instrument of the violin family.
- string-puller — a person who uses his or her influence with other people to get things done, often unfairly
- striped maple — a maple, Acer pensylvanicum, of northeastern North America, having white-striped bark.
- strophiolated — having strophioles, caruncles
- subdiscipline — training to act in accordance with rules; drill: military discipline.
- subepithelial — any animal tissue that covers a surface, or lines a cavity or the like, and that, in addition, performs any of various secretory, transporting, or regulatory functions.
- sublime porte — official name of Porte.