15-letter words containing f, r, e, u
- silver fluoride — a yellow or brownish, crystalline, water-soluble, hygroscopic solid, AgF, used chiefly as an antiseptic and disinfectant.
- simple fracture — a fracture in which the bone does not pierce the skin.
- snafu principle — /sna'foo prin'si-pl/ [WWII Army acronym for "Situation Normal: All Fucked Up"] "True communication is possible only between equals, because inferiors are more consistently rewarded for telling their superiors pleasant lies than for telling the truth." - a central tenet of Discordianism, often invoked by hackers to explain why authoritarian hierarchies screw up so reliably and systematically. The effect of the SNAFU principle is a progressive disconnection of decision-makers from reality. This lightly adapted version of a fable dating back to the early 1960s illustrates the phenomenon perfectly: In the beginning was the plan, and then the specification; And the plan was without form, and the specification was void. And darkness was on the faces of the implementors thereof; And they spake unto their leader, saying: "It is a crock of shit, and smells as of a sewer." And the leader took pity on them, and spoke to the project leader: "It is a crock of excrement, and none may abide the odor thereof." And the project leader spake unto his section head, saying: "It is a container of excrement, and it is very strong, such that none may abide it." The section head then hurried to his department manager, and informed him thus: "It is a vessel of fertilizer, and none may abide its strength." The department manager carried these words to his general manager, and spoke unto him saying: "It containeth that which aideth the growth of plants, and it is very strong." And so it was that the general manager rejoiced and delivered the good news unto the Vice President. "It promoteth growth, and it is very powerful." The Vice President rushed to the President's side, and joyously exclaimed: "This powerful new software product will promote the growth of the company!" And the President looked upon the product, and saw that it was very good. After the subsequent disaster, the suits protect themselves by saying "I was misinformed!", and the implementors are demoted or fired.
- sodium fluoride — a colorless, crystalline, water-soluble, poisonous solid, NaF, used chiefly in the fluoridation of water, as an insecticide, and as a rodenticide.
- special feature — an article differing from the normal format and focusing on a particular topic
- st. ulmo's fire — St. Elmo's fire.
- star of courage — a Canadian award for bravery
- stiff upper lip — stoicism
- stress fracture — a hairline crack in a bone, especially of a foot or leg, caused by repeated or prolonged stress and often occurring in runners, dancers, and soldiers (march fracture)
- strombuliferous — having organs coiled as spirals
- subprofessional — being below professional standards: subprofessional health care.
- sulfite process — a process for making wood pulp by digesting wood chips in an acid liquor consisting of sulfurous acid and a salt, usually calcium bisulfite.
- sulfur trioxide — an irritant, corrosive, low-melting solid, SO 3 , obtained by the oxidation of sulfur dioxide, used as an intermediate in the manufacture of sulfuric acid.
- summary offence — an offence that is triable in a magistrates' court
- summer flounder — a flounder, Paralichthys dentatus, inhabiting shallow waters from Cape Cod to South Carolina, valued as food.
- sunflower seeds — the seeds of a sunflower, which can be eaten
- sunflower state — Kansas (used as a nickname).
- super-efficient — performing or functioning in the best possible manner with the least waste of time and effort; having and using requisite knowledge, skill, and industry; competent; capable: a reliable, efficient assistant.
- superconfidence — great or extreme confidence, overconfidence
- superefficiency — the quality or condition of being superefficient
- superficialness — being at, on, or near the surface: a superficial wound.
- superfluousness — being more than is sufficient or required; excessive.
- surface density — quantity, as of electric charge, per unit surface area.
- surface grammar — grammar understood at the level of normal communication, rather than at the underlying level of 'deep' semantic and syntactic analysis
- surface tension — the elasticlike force existing in the surface of a body, especially a liquid, tending to minimize the area of the surface, caused by asymmetries in the intermolecular forces between surface molecules.
- surface-ripened — (of cheese) ripened on the surface by molds or other microorganisms.
- sylvian fissure — lateral fissure.
- tentaculiferous — having tentacles
- tetrafunctional — pertaining to molecules or groups that can bond at four sites.
- tetrahydrofuran — a clear liquid, C 4 H 8 O, soluble in water and organic solvents, used as a solvent for resins, in polymerizations and as a chemical intermediate.
- the crucifixion — the crucifying of Christ at Calvary, regarded by Christians as the culminating redemptive act of his ministry
- the rule of law — the principle that no one is above the law and that everyone must follow the law
- theft insurance — insurance against loss or damage of property resulting from theft.
- thermodiffusion — thermal diffusion.
- three-four time — music: 3/4 time signature
- transfer lounge — the place in an airport where you wait for a transfer from one flight to another
- trifluoperazine — a compound, C 21 H 24 F 3 N 3 S, used as an antipsychotic.
- trout fisherman — a fisherman who catches trout
- true-false test — a test requiring one to mark statements as true or false.
- turn a deaf ear — pretend not to hear
- ultracentrifuge — a high-speed centrifuge for subjecting sols or solutions to forces many times that of gravity and producing concentration differences depending on the weight of the micelle or molecule.
- ultramicrofiche — ultrafiche.
- unaccounted for — If people or things are unaccounted for, you do not know where they are or what has happened to them.
- unaccounted-for — not accounted for; not understood; unexplained: an explosion resulting from some unaccounted-for mechanical failure.
- under sb's roof — If something happens under your roof, it happens in your home.
- under the knife — an instrument for cutting, consisting essentially of a thin, sharp-edged, metal blade fitted with a handle.
- under your feet — If you say that someone is under your feet, you are annoyed because they are with you or near you, and are bothering you.
- under-frequency — Also, frequence. the state or fact of being frequent; frequent occurrence: We are alarmed by the frequency of fires in the neighborhood.
- underfulfilling — falling short of satisfactory
- undress uniform — a uniform worn on other than formal occasions.