17-letter words containing l, a, v, s
- save shoe leather — to avoid wearing out shoes, as by taking a bus rather than walking
- saved by the bell — a hollow instrument of cast metal, typically cup-shaped with a flaring mouth, suspended from the vertex and rung by the strokes of a clapper, hammer, or the like.
- selective amnesia — the deliberate forgetting of something
- self-belay device — (in climbing) a device used to pay out a safety rope as required
- self-conservation — the act of conserving; prevention of injury, decay, waste, or loss; preservation: conservation of wildlife; conservation of human rights.
- self-preservation — preservation of oneself from harm or destruction.
- sentimental value — personal, emotional significance
- seven deadly sins — Christianity: worst vices
- shetland pullover — a thick woollen sweater made from Shetland wool
- side-valve engine — a type of internal-combustion engine in which the inlet and exhaust valves are in the cylinder block at the side of the pistons
- silver star medal — a U.S. military decoration in the form of a bronze star with a small silver star at the center, awarded for gallantry in action
- sinus of valsalva — any of the pouches of the aorta and the pulmonary artery opposite the flaps of the semilunar valves into which blood returning to the heart flows, closing the valves.
- sleep deprivation — a condition in which you have not had enough sleep
- sliding vane pump — A sliding vane pump is a pump in which the vanes (=flat parts) are the main sealing element between the suction and discharge areas.
- small waved umber — a brownish geometrid moth, Horisme vitalbata, that is cryptically marked to merge with tree bark
- small-leaved lime — Tilia cordata: a tiliaceous deciduous tree of the N temperate genus Tilia, having heart-shaped leaves and small fragrant yellowish flowers: cultivated for timber and as shade trees
- sodium-vapor lamp — an electric lamp in which sodium vapor is activated by current passing between two electrodes, producing a yellow, glareless light: used on streets and highways.
- soil conservation — any of various methods to achieve the maximum utilization of the land and preserve its resources through such controls as crop rotation, prevention of soil erosion, etc.
- spanish civil war — the civil war in Spain 1936–39.
- special privilege — exclusive advantage
- spiral bevel gear — a bevel gear having curved teeth tending to converge on the axis of rotation.
- stellar evolution — the sequence of changes that occurs in a star as it ages
- structural survey — an examination of a property carried out by surveyor which should reveal any problems with the building
- subclavian artery — either of a pair of arteries, one on each side of the body, that carry the main supply of blood to the arms.
- subclavian groove — either of two grooves in the first rib, one for the main artery (subclavian artery) and the other for the main vein (subclavian vein) of the arm
- subtractive color — cyan, yellow, or magenta, as used in the subtractive process of color photography.
- survival instinct — the instinct in humans and animals to do things in a dangerous situation that will prevent them from dying
- sybase sql server — Adaptive Server Enterprise
- synovial membrane — anatomy: connective tissue
- the pennsylvanian — the Pennsylvanian period or rock system, equivalent to the Upper Carboniferous of Europe
- the twelve tables — the earliest code of Roman civil, criminal, and religious law, promulgated in 451–450 bc
- the-invisible-man — a novel (1897) by H.G. Wells.
- transferable vote — a vote that is transferred to a second candidate indicated by the voter if the first is eliminated from the ballot
- twelve patriarchs — any of the sons of Jacob ((the twelve patriarchs),) from whom the tribes of Israel were descended.
- ultraconservative — extremely conservative, especially in politics.
- unconventionalist — not conventional; not bound by or conforming to convention, rule, or precedent; free from conventionality: an unconventional artist; an unconventional use of material.
- universal algebra — (logic) The model theory of first-order equational logic.
- universal grammar — a grammar that attempts to establish the properties and constraints common to all possible human languages.
- vaginal discharge — emission from the female genitalia
- valence electrons — an electron of an atom, located in the outermost shell (valence shell) of the atom, that can be transferred to or shared with another atom.
- valetudinarianism — the state, condition, or habits of a valetudinarian.
- valsalva maneuver — a forced expiratory effort against a closed glottis that decreases intrathoracic pressure, hampering venous return to the heart, and that can be used to inflate the Eustachian tubes and adjust pressure in the middle ear.
- van diemen's land — former name of Tasmania.
- vanity publishing — the practice of the author of a book paying all or most of the costs of its publication
- varix lymphaticus — a similar condition affecting an artery or lymphatic vessel
- vascular cylinder — stele (sense 3)
- vasovagal syncope — a faint brought on by excessive activity of the vagus nerve, causing the heart to slow and the blood pressure to fall. It can be caused by fear, choking, or stomach cramps and has no lasting effects
- vehicle insurance — Vehicle insurance is insurance purchased for cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other road vehicles.
- veiltail goldfish — an artificially bred, indoor variety of goldfish, usually golden or calico and of a spheroid shape, having a fully divided, drooping tail fin exceeding the body in length.
- velaric airstream — a current of mouth air produced by the action of the tongue, operant in forming click sounds.