17-letter words containing f, i, n, s
- spanish influenza — the pandemic respiratory infection that spread throughout the world during 1917–18.
- spatial frequency — the measure of fine detail in an optical image in terms of cycles per millimetre
- spiritus frumenti — whiskey.
- spoonbill catfish — flathead catfish.
- springfield rifle — a single-shot, breechloading .45-caliber rifle used by the U.S. Army from 1867 to 1893.
- staff association — an association of employees that performs some of the functions of a trade union, such as representing its members in discussions with the management, and may also have other social and professional purposes
- standard function — a subprogram provided by a translator that carries out a task, for example the computation of a mathematical function, such as sine, square root, etc
- stannous fluoride — a white, crystalline powder, SnF 2 , slightly soluble in water: used as a source of fluorine in the prevention of dental caries, especially as a toothpaste additive.
- stare in the face — to gaze fixedly and intently, especially with the eyes wide open.
- stay of execution — If you are given a stay of execution, you are legally allowed to delay obeying an order of a court of law.
- strait of otranto — a stretch of water between SE Italy and Albania, connecting the Adriatic Sea with the Ionian Sea; of strategic importance during World War I
- sufficient reason — the principle that nothing happens by pure chance, but that an explanation must always be available
- sulfonyl chloride — a colorless liquid, SO 2 Cl 2 , having a very pungent odor and corrosive to the skin and mucous membranes: used as a chlorinating or sulfonating agent.
- sustentation fund — a fund, esp in the Church of Scotland, to augment the support of ministers
- teaching software — computer software for use in providing online education
- the carboniferous — the Carboniferous period or rock system
- the final whistle — a blast on a referee's whistle to indicate that a game is over
- the first line of — If you refer to a method as the first line of, for example, defence or treatment, you mean that it is the first or most important method to be used in dealing with a problem.
- the life and soul — a person regarded as the main source of merriment and liveliness
- the life sciences — sciences such as biology, botany, physiology, zoology which are concerned with the study of living organisms
- the tet offensive — an offensive launched in January–February 1968 by the North Vietnamese Army and the Vietcong. Coinciding with the first day of the Tet, it was a surprise attack on South Vietnamese cities, including Saigon
- thermal diffusion — the separation of constituents, often isotopes, of a fluid under the influence of a temperature gradient.
- think in terms of — If you say that you are thinking in terms of doing a particular thing, you mean that you are considering it.
- thuringian forest — a forested mountain region in central Germany: a resort area.
- to say nothing of — You use to say nothing of when you mention an additional thing which gives even more strength to the point you are making.
- traffic diversion — a special route arranged for traffic to follow when the normal route cannot be used
- transfer function — The transfer function of a circuit is the ratio of the response to the input.
- transformationist — transformist.
- transignification — (in the Eucharist) a change in the significance of the bread and wine to symbolize the body and blood of Christ.
- unclassified road — a road that has not been given a grade because it is of a basic standard
- under the sign of — during that portion of the year when the sun is passing through and thus subject to the influence of (a specified sign of the zodiac)
- uniformitarianism — supporting, conforming to, or derived from a theory or doctrine about uniformity, especially on the subject of geology.
- unity of interest — the equal interest in property held by joint tenants
- unofficial strike — a strike that is not approved by the strikers' trade union
- unprofessionalism — not professional; not pertaining to or characteristic of a profession.
- unselfconsciously — in an unselfconscious manner
- ventilation shaft — a shaft in a mine, tunnel, or building used for providing ventilation or fresh air
- wallis and futuna — French overseas territory in the South Pacific, northeast of the Fiji Islands: it consists of two groups of islands (Wallis Islands and Futuna Islands): c. 106 sq mi (275 sq km); pop. 14,000
- wedding breakfast — meal served at wedding reception
- welfare economics — a branch of economics concerned with improving human welfare and social conditions chiefly through the optimum distribution of wealth, the relief or reduction of unemployment, etc.
- wings of the dove — a novel (1902) by Henry James.
- wisdom of solomon — a book of the Apocrypha.
- year of confusion — (in ancient Rome) the year of 445 days preceding the introduction, in 46 b.c., of the Julian calendar: lengthened to compensate for the cumulative errors of the Roman calendar.