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16-letter words containing f, o, d, c

  • curried function — (mathematics, programming)   A function of N arguments that is considered as a function of one argument which returns another function of N-1 arguments. E.g. in Haskell we can define: average :: Int -> (Int -> Int) (The parentheses are optional). A partial application of average, to one Int, e.g. (average 4), returns a function of type (Int -> Int) which averages its argument with 4. In uncurried languages a function must always be applied to all its arguments but a partial application can be represented using a lambda abstraction: \ x -> average(4,x) Currying is necessary if full laziness is to be applied to functional sub-expressions. It was named after the logician Haskell Curry but the 19th-century logician, Gottlob Frege was the first to propose it and it was first referred to in ["Uber die Bausteine der mathematischen Logik", M. Schoenfinkel, Mathematische Annalen. Vol 92 (1924)]. Stefan Kahrs <[email protected]> reported hearing somebody in Germany trying to introduce "scho"nen" for currying and "finkeln" for "uncurrying". The verb "scho"nen" means "to beautify"; "finkeln" isn't a German word, but it suggests "to fiddle".
  • day of reckoning — If someone talks about the day of reckoning, they mean a day or time in the future when people will be forced to deal with an unpleasant situation which they have avoided until now.
  • deboursification — (jargon)   Removal of irrelevant newsgroups from the Newsgroups header of a followup. The term applies particularly to the removal of frivolous groups added by one of the Kooks. See also: sneck.
  • decimal fraction — a fraction whose denominator is some power of 10, usually indicated by a dot (decimal point or point) written before the numerator: as 0.4 = 4/10; 0.126 = 126/1000.
  • declassification — to remove the classification from (information, a document, etc.) that restricts access in terms of secrecy, confidentiality, etc. Compare classification (def 5).
  • deflecting force — the apparent deflection (Coriolis acceleration) of a body in motion with respect to the earth, as seen by an observer on the earth, attributed to a fictitious force (Coriolis force) but actually caused by the rotation of the earth and appearing as a deflection to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and a deflection to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
  • dehumidification — Dehumidification is the removal of vapor from a gas-vapor mixture.
  • dentist's office — A dentist's office is the room or house where a dentist works.
  • descent function — If a recursive function is of the form f x = ... f (d x) ... then d is known as the descent function.
  • dictionary flame — [Usenet] An attempt to sidetrack a debate away from issues by insisting on meanings for key terms that presuppose a desired conclusion or smuggle in an implicit premise. A common tactic of people who prefer argument over definitions to disputes about reality. Compare spelling flame.
  • direction finder — a receiver with a loop antenna rotating on a vertical axis, used to ascertain the direction of incoming radio waves.
  • disqualification — an act or instance of disqualifying.
  • dissatisfactions — Plural form of dissatisfaction.
  • diversifications — Plural form of diversification.
  • documentary film — factual, informative film
  • dolce far niente — pleasing inactivity.
  • dome of the rock — a shrine in Jerusalem at the site from which Muhammad ascended through the seven heavens to the throne of God: built on the site of the Jewish Temple.
  • dorothy canfield — Dorothy, Fisher, Dorothy Canfield.
  • drag coefficient — a measure of the drag of an object in a moving fluid, esp air
  • duchess of malfi — a tragedy (1614?) by John Webster.
  • dysfunctionality — (uncountable) The condition of being dysfunctional.
  • elected official — person voted into office
  • false beechdrops — either of two parasitic or saprophytic plants of the genus Monotropa, especially the tawny or reddish M. hypopithys (false beechdrops) of eastern North America.
  • fandango on core — (jargon, programming)   (Unix/C, from the Mexican dance) In C, a wild pointer that runs out of bounds, causing a core dump, or corrupts the malloc arena in such a way as to cause mysterious failures later on, is sometimes said to have "done a fandango on core". On low-end personal machines without an MMU, this can corrupt the operating system itself, causing massive lossage. Other frenetic dances such as the rhumba, cha-cha, or watusi, may be substituted. See aliasing bug, precedence lossage, smash the stack, memory leak, memory smash, overrun screw, core.
  • feedback control — (electronics)   A control system which monitors its effect on the system it is controlling and modifies its output accordingly. For example, a thermostat has two inputs: the desired temperature and the current temperature (the latter is the feedback). The output of the thermostat changes so as to try to equalise the two inputs. Computer disk drives use feedback control to position the read/write heads accurately on a recording track. Complex systems such as the human body contain many feedback systems that interact with each other; the homeostasis mechanisms that control body temperature and acidity are good examples.
  • feel constrained — If you feel constrained to do something, you feel that you must do it, even though you would prefer not to.
  • feel-good factor — When journalists refer to the feel-good factor, they mean that people are feeling hopeful and optimistic about the future.
  • ferdinand marcos — Ferdinand E(dralin) [ed-ruh-lin] /ˈɛd rə lɪn/ (Show IPA), 1917–1989, Philippine political leader: president 1965–86.
  • ferrocyanic acid — a white, crystalline, unstable, water-soluble solid, H 4 Fe(CN) 6 , obtained by the interaction of a ferrocyanide and an acid.
  • ferruginous duck — a common European duck, Aythyra nyroca, having reddish-brown plumage with white wing bars
  • fielder's choice — a fielder's attempt to put out a base runner rather than the batter when a play at first base would put out the batter.
  • finance director — financial manager
  • financial doping — the situation in which a sports franchise borrows heavily in order to contract and pay high-performing players, jeopardizing their long-term financial future
  • find one's voice — If someone finds their voice, they start to speak in spite of fear or surprise or difficult circumstances.
  • finished product — the product that emerges at the end of a manufacturing process
  • flight indicator — artificial horizon (def 3).
  • floridean starch — the storage polysaccharide of red algae.
  • fluosilicic acid — an unstable acid, H 2 SiF 6 , known only in its colorless, poisonous, fuming aqueous solution or in the form of its salts: used chiefly as a wood preservative, a disinfectant, and as a hardening agent in the manufacture of ceramic ware, cement, and concrete.
  • focused strategy — a business strategy in which an organization divests itself of all but its core activities, using the funds raised to enhance the distinctive abilities that give it an advantage over its rivals
  • follow the crowd — copy what others are doing
  • food intolerance — an intolerance of a specific type of food, causing an adverse reaction
  • for a good cause — If you say that something is for a good cause, you mean that it is worth doing or giving to because it will help other people, for example by raising money for charity.
  • forbush decrease — the sudden decrease in the intensity of cosmic rays after an increase in solar activity.
  • force one's hand — the terminal, prehensile part of the upper limb in humans and other primates, consisting of the wrist, metacarpal area, fingers, and thumb.
  • forced vibration — Forced vibration is a type of vibration in which a force is repeatedly applied to a mechanical system.
  • forward chaining — A data-driven technique used in constructing goals or reaching inferences derived from a set of facts. Forward chaining is the basis of production systems. Oppose backward chaining.
  • forward contract — a contract to buy or sell an asset at a point in the future at a previously agreed price
  • forward exchange — a foreign bill purchased at a stipulated price and payable at a future date.
  • francis townsend — Francis Everett, 1867–1960, U.S. physician and proposer of the Townsend plan.
  • french directory — the body of five directors in power in France from 1795 until their overthrow by Napoleon in 1799
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