16-letter words containing f, r, e, t
- 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
- follow-up letter — a letter sent as a follow-up to an initial letter or to a telephone call, meeting, etc
- food intolerance — an intolerance of a specific type of food, causing an adverse reaction
- foot in the door — If you say that something helps someone to get their foot in the door or their toe in the door, you mean that it gives them an opportunity to start doing something new, usually in an area that is difficult to succeed in.
- foot reflexology — reflexology (def 1).
- footsteps editor — the technician who adds sound effects, such as doors closing, rain falling, etc, during the postproduction sound-dubbing process
- for a/one minute — If you say that you do not believe for a minute or for one minute that something is true, you are emphasizing that you do not believe that it is true.
- for a/one moment — If you say that you do not believe for a moment or for one moment that something is true, you are emphasizing that you do not believe that it could possibly be true.
- for external use — If medicine is for external use, it is intended to be used only on the outside of your body, and not to be eaten or drunk.
- for pete's sake! — an expression of frustration, exasperation or annoyance
- for the duration — If you say that something will happen for the duration, you mean that it will happen for as long as a particular situation continues.
- for the meantime — For the meantime means for a period of time from now until something else happens.
- forbes-robertson — Sir Johnston, 1853–1937, English actor and theatrical manager.
- forbid the banns — to raise an objection to a marriage announced in this way
- forced vibration — Forced vibration is a type of vibration in which a force is repeatedly applied to a mechanical system.
- fore and aft rig — a sail set in a line from one end the other of a vessel rather than in a square
- fore-and-aft rig — a rig in which the principal sails are fore-and-aft.
- forefathers' day — the anniversary of the day (December 21, 1620, in Old Style December 11) on which the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, Mass. Owing to an error in changing the date from the Old Style to the New, it is generally observed on December 22.
- foreign minister — (in countries other than the U.S.) a cabinet minister who conducts and supervises foreign and diplomatic relations with other states. Also called, especially British, foreign secretary. Compare secretary of state (def 1).
- foreign national — citizen of another country
- forked lightning — Forked lightning is lightning that divides into two or more parts near the ground.
- formation packer — A formation packer is a substance that is used as a seal between the casing and the borehole so that part of the hole can be tested.
- formylmethionine — Alternative spelling of formyl methionine.
- fort leavenworth — a military reservation and U.S. Army training center in E Kansas adjoining Leavenworth, one of the oldest (1827) military posts W of the Mississippi and site of federal penitentiary.
- fortin barometer — an adjustable cistern barometer, the most common of those employing mercury.
- forwarding agent — freight forwarder.
- four-letter word — any of a number of short words, usually of four letters, considered offensive or vulgar because of their reference to excrement or sex.
- four-masted brig — jackass bark (def 2).
- four-minute mile — a mile-long race run in four minutes or less
- four-star petrol — petrol containing lead, formerly sold in the UK
- fourth amendment — an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights, prohibiting unlawful search and seizure of personal property.
- fourth dimension — Physics, Mathematics. a dimension in addition to length, width, and depth, used so as to be able to employ geometrical language in discussing phenomena that depend on four variables: Time is considered a fourth dimension for locating points in space-time.
- francis townsend — Francis Everett, 1867–1960, U.S. physician and proposer of the Townsend plan.
- fraternity house — a house occupied by a college or university fraternity.
- frederic mistral — Frédéric [frey-dey-reek] /freɪ deɪˈrik/ (Show IPA), 1830–1914, French Provençal poet: Nobel prize 1904.
- free association — the uncensored expression of the ideas, impressions, etc., passing through the mind of the analysand, a technique used to facilitate access to the unconscious.
- free enterpriser — a person who practices or advocates free enterprise.
- free perspective — exaggeration of perspectival devices to increase the illusion of depth, used especially in stage-set painting and construction.
- freeboard length — the length of a vessel, measured on the summer load line from the fore side of the stem to some part of the stern, usually the after side of the rudderpost.
- freezing mixture — a mixture of two substances, usually salt and ice, to give a temperature below 0°C
- freight terminal — (on a rail network) a place where freight is stored while awaiting onward transport
- french community — a cultural and economic association of France, its overseas departments and territories, and former French territories that chose to maintain association after becoming independent republics: formed 1958.
- french directory — the body of five directors in power in France from 1795 until their overthrow by Napoleon in 1799
- french telephone — handset (def 1).
- freshwater pearl — any of the small pearls produced especially by freshwater mussels.
- friction gearing — wheels or disks transmitting power by means of frictional contact.
- friction welding — a method of welding thermoplastics or metals by the heat generated by rubbing the members to be joined against each other under pressure.
- friendly society — law: mutual group providing benefits
- frigate mackerel — a small, blue-green, black-striped fish, Auxis thazard, abundant in tropical seas, having dark, oily flesh that is sometimes used as food.