15-letter words containing i, l, r
- fluoridationist — One who supports the addition of fluoride to the public water supply.
- fluorine dating — a method of determining the relative age of fossil bones found in the same excavation by comparing their fluorine content.
- fluorochemicals — Plural form of fluorochemical.
- fluoroquinolone — Any of a class of therapeutic antibiotics that are active against a range of bacteria associated with human and animal diseases. Their use in livestock has sparked concerns about the spread of bacteria resistant to them in humans.
- flying buttress — a segmental arch transmitting an outward and downward thrust to a solid buttress that through its inertia transforms the thrust into a vertical one.
- flying characin — hatchetfish (def 2).
- flying fortress — a heavy bomber, the B-17, with four radial piston engines, widely used over Europe and the Mediterranean by the U.S. Air Force in World War II.
- flying squirrel — any of various nocturnal tree squirrels, as Glaucomys volans, of the eastern U.S., having folds of skin connecting the fore and hind legs, permitting long, gliding leaps.
- fool's paradise — a state of enjoyment based on false beliefs or hopes; a state of illusory happiness.
- for good or ill — If you say that something is happening or will happen for good or ill, you mean that it is out of anyone's control whether it happens and what its effects will be.
- fork-lift truck — Also called forklift truck, fork truck. a small vehicle with two power-operated prongs at the front that can be slid under heavy loads and then raised for moving and stacking materials in warehouses, shipping depots, etc.
- formation fluid — Formation fluid is fluid in the pores (=tiny holes) of a rock.
- formation rules — the set of rules that specify the syntax of a formal system; the algorithm that generates the well-formed formulae
- formularization — The act of formularizing; a formularized or formulated statement or exhibition.
- forward-looking — planning for or anticipating possible future events, conditions, etc.; progressive.
- fourth official — In football, the fourth official is an official who assists the referee and assistant referees from the side of the pitch.
- fourth republic — the republic established in France in 1945 and replaced by the Fifth Republic in 1958.
- fovea centralis — a small pit or depression at the back of the retina forming the point of sharpest vision.
- fractional note — a banknote in a denomination smaller than the standard unit of currency
- fractionalizing — Present participle of fractionalize.
- franklin pierce — Franklin, 1804–69, 14th president of the U.S. 1853–57.
- franklin square — a town on W Long Island, in SE New York.
- franklin's gull — a black-headed North American gull, Larus pipixcan, feeding chiefly on insects.
- fraternal twins — one of a pair of twins, not necessarily resembling each other, or of the same sex, that develop from two separately fertilized ova.
- free soil party — a former U.S. political party (1848–56) that opposed the extension of slavery in the Territories not yet admitted to statehood.
- free throw line — foul line (def 2).
- free-tailed bat — any of various small, swift, insect-eating bats of the family Molossidae, common in warm climates, having thick, leathery ears and a tail that projects well beyond the tail membrane.
- french marigold — a composite plant, Tagetes patula, of Mexico, having yellow flowers with red markings.
- fresnel biprism — biprism.
- fresnel mirrors — two plane mirrors so linked that a beam of light falling on them is reflected in slightly different directions, thus producing interference fringes in the area where this reflected light overlaps
- friar's lantern — ignis fatuus (def 1).
- friction clutch — a clutch in which one part turns another by friction between them.
- friedmann model — any model of the universe deduced from a homogeneous, isotropic solution of Einstein's field equations without a cosmological constant. Such models form the mathematical basis for many modern cosmologies and provide for expansion or contraction of the universe.
- fringe festival — an unofficial, often unconventional, arts festival that is associated with another, larger festival
- frisian islands — a chain of islands in the North Sea along the coasts of the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark: separated from the mainland by shallows
- full outer join — outer join
- full-cream milk — whole unskimmed milk
- fumitory family — the plant family Fumariaceae, characterized by herbaceous plants having deeply cut basal or alternate leaves, flowers with four petals of which one or two are spurred or lobed, and fruit in the form of a capsule, and including the bleeding heart, Dutchman's-breeches, fumitory, and squirrel corn.
- funeral oration — a formal speech delivered at a funeral
- funeral service — ceremony at a burial or cremation
- fusospirillosis — (medicine) alternative name of acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis.
- fusospirochetal — Relating to fusospirochetes.
- futilitarianism — The belief that all human activity is futile.
- gale-force wind — a wind of force seven to ten on the Beaufort scale or from 45 to 90 kilometres per hour
- gallant soldier — a South American plant, Galinsoga parviflora, widely distributed as a weed, having small daisy-like flowers surrounded by silvery scales: family Asteraceae (composites)
- galvanized iron — iron or steel, especially in sheets, coated with zinc to prevent rust.
- gambier islands — a group of islands in the S Pacific Ocean, in French Polynesia. Chief settlement: Rikitéa. Pop: 1097 (2002). Area: 30 sq km (11 sq miles)
- gaming platform — a computer system specially made for playing video games; a console: The new gaming platforms have much better graphics resolution than previous generation consoles.
- gardening leave — If someone who leaves their job is given gardening leave, they continue to receive their salary and in return they agree not to work for anyone else for a period of time.
- gardening tools — tools used for gardening, such as a trowel, spade, rake, etc