12-letter words containing i, a, f
- an iron fist — a cruel and unyielding attitude or approach
- anemone fish — any of various damselfishes of the genus Amphiprion, such as A. percula (clown anemone fish), that usually live closely associated with sea anemones
- angle of dip — to plunge (something, as a cloth or sponge) temporarily into a liquid, so as to moisten it, dye it, or cause it to take up some of the liquid: He dipped the brush into the paint bucket.
- anguilliform — having the shape or form of an eel
- animal faith — nonrational belief in the existence of a fully knowable world outside the mind.
- animated gif — (graphics, file format) (GIF89a) A variant of the GIF image format, often used on web pages to provide moving icons and banners. The GIF89a format supports multiple "frames" that give the impression of motion when displayed in sequence, much like a flip book. The animation may repeat continuously or play once. Animated GIFs aren't supported by earlier web browsers, however the first frame of the image is still shown. There are many utilities to create animated GIFs from a sequence of individual GIF files. There are also utilities that will produce animated GIFs automatically from a piece of text or a single image. One problem with this format is the size of the files produced, as they are by definition a sequence of individual images. Apart from minimising the number of frames, the best way to decrease file size is to assist the LZW compression by using blocks of solid colour, avoid dithering, and use fewer colours. If areas of an image don't change from one frame to another, they don't need to be redrawn so make the area a transparent block in the second frame.
- antarafacial — (chemistry) Of a chemical reaction, involving two simultaneous changes in bonding to opposite faces of a common centre (or related centres) of a molecular fragment.
- anti-fascism — (sometimes initial capital letter) a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.
- anti-foreign — the policy or practice of showing hostility toward foreigners, foreign customs, etc.
- antiaircraft — used for defense against hostile aircraft
- antidandruff — preventing or treating dandruff
- antifebriles — Plural form of antifebrile.
- antifeminine — opposed to or discriminating against women or feminine characteristics or behaviour
- antifeminism — the opposition to feminism
- antifeminist — a person, movement or action opposed to feminism
- antifriction — intended to reduce friction
- antireformer — One who opposes reform.
- arabia felix — an ancient division of Arabia, in the S part: sometimes restricted to Yemen.
- arabian gulf — an arm of the Arabian Sea, between SW Iran and Arabia. 600 miles (965 km) long.
- aramid fiber — a fiber having resistance to high temperatures and great strength, formed from an aramid and used in materials for bulletproof vests and radial tires.
- archerfishes — Plural form of archerfish.
- archive file — a single computer file that contains one or more files that have been compressed
- arfvedsonite — a type of hornblende with the composition Na3(Fe,Mg)4FeSi8O22(OH)2
- army officer — a person in the army who holds a position of authority, responsibility and duty, especially one who holds a commission
- arseniferous — Lb geology Containing or producing arsenic.
- artificially — made by human skill; produced by humans (opposed to natural): artificial flowers.
- assay office — an organization that assays and monitors the purity of precious metals in a particular country
- assuefaction — the condition of being or becoming familiar with or used to something
- astroturfing — a PR tactic used in politics and advertising in which actors are paid to display overt and apparently spontaneous grassroots support for a particular product, policy, or event
- austin friar — one of the Hermits of St. Augustine.
- autofellatio — Oral stimulation of one's own penis.
- average life — the average time that an unstable particle or nucleus survives before it decays.
- axis of evil — North Korea, Iraq, and Iran when considered together as a perceived threat to world stability
- backflipping — the process of reversing one's position
- baha'í faith — a religious system founded in 1863 by Baha'ullah, based on Babism and emphasizing the value of all religions and the spiritual unity of all mankind
- bairnsfather — Bruce. 1888–1959, British cartoonist, born in India: best known for his cartoons of the war in the trenches during World War I
- ball of fire — a very lively person
- barking frog — a robber frog, Hylactophryne augusti, of Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico, having a call like a dog's bark.
- barley field — a piece of land cleared of trees and undergrowth, usually enclosed with a fence or hedge and used for growing barley
- barrack life — the experiences, activities, etc that are characteristic of a soldier's time spent dwelling in a barracks
- barrier reef — a long narrow coral reef near and lying parallel to the shore, separated from it by deep water
- bashkirtseff — Marie, original name Marya Konstantinovna Bashkirtseva. 1858–84, Russian painter and diarist who wrote in French, noted esp for her Journal (1887)
- basification — the process of making something alkaline
- bastard file — a file of the commercial grade of coarseness between coarse and second-cut.
- battery fire — the firing of a battery of weapons
- battlefields — Plural form of battlefield.
- be damned if — If someone says 'I'm damned if I'm going to do it' or 'I'll be damned if I'll do it', they are emphasizing that they do not intend to do something and think it is unreasonable for anyone to expect them to do it.
- beaconsfield — a town in SE England, in Buckinghamshire. Pop: 12 292 (2001)
- beatifically — bestowing bliss, blessings, happiness, or the like: beatific peace.
- beautifulest — (dated) Most beautiful; more beautiful than anyone or anything else.