16-letter words containing l, o, n, r, t
- feedback control — (electronics) A control system which monitors its effect on the system it is controlling and modifies its output accordingly. For example, a thermostat has two inputs: the desired temperature and the current temperature (the latter is the feedback). The output of the thermostat changes so as to try to equalise the two inputs. Computer disk drives use feedback control to position the read/write heads accurately on a recording track. Complex systems such as the human body contain many feedback systems that interact with each other; the homeostasis mechanisms that control body temperature and acidity are good examples.
- feel constrained — If you feel constrained to do something, you feel that you must do it, even though you would prefer not to.
- feulgen reaction — a reaction in which an aldehyde combines with a modified Schiff's reagent to produce a purplish compound: used especially to test for the presence of DNA
- filter promotion — (algorithm) In a generate and test algorithm, combining part of the filter with the generator in order to reduce the number of potential solutions generated. A trivial example: filter (< 100) [1..1000] ==> [1..99] where [1..n] generates the list of integers from 1 to n. Here the filter has been combined completely with the generator. This is an example of fusion.
- fire regulations — rules intended to make sure that people and property stay safe in the event of a fire
- flabbergastation — (colloquial) Bewildered shock or surprise; the state or condition of being flabbergasted.
- flash eliminator — a device fitted to the muzzle of a firearm to reduce the flash made by the ignited propellant gases
- flettner control — servocontrol (def 3).
- flight formation — an arrangement of two or more airplanes flying together in a group, usually in a predetermined pattern.
- flight indicator — artificial horizon (def 3).
- floridean starch — the storage polysaccharide of red algae.
- flotation collar — an inflatable device worn around the neck to keep the wearer afloat when in danger of drowning
- fluorescent lamp — a tubular electric discharge lamp in which light is produced by the fluorescence of phosphors coating the inside of the tube.
- flutter tonguing — a method of sounding a wind instrument, esp the flute, with a rolling movement of the tongue
- food intolerance — an intolerance of a specific type of food, causing an adverse reaction
- fool around with — have casual sex
- 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.
- foreign national — citizen of another country
- forked lightning — Forked lightning is lightning that divides into two or more parts near the ground.
- formation flying — a formal arrangement of flying aircraft acting as a unit
- 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.
- four-minute mile — a mile-long race run in four minutes or less
- frankfurt school — a school of thought, founded at the University of Frankfurt in 1923 by Theodor Adorno, Herbert Marcuse and others, derived from Marxist, Freudian, and Hegelian theory
- 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.
- french telephone — handset (def 1).
- 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
- front-end loader — a loader having a shovel or bucket at the end of an articulated arm located at the front of the vehicle.
- frontal lobotomy — Surgery. a psychosurgical procedure in which the frontal lobes are separated from the rest of the brain by cutting the connecting nerve fibers.
- frontier orbital — the highest-energy occupied orbital or lowest-energy unoccupied orbital in a molecule. Such orbitals have a large influence on chemical properties
- functional group — a group of atoms responsible for the characteristic behavior of the class of compounds in which the group occurs, as the hydroxyl group in alcohols.
- functional water — water containing additives that provide extra nutritional value
- funeral director — a person, usually a licensed embalmer, who supervises or conducts the preparation of the dead for burial and directs or arranges funerals.
- furniture polish — product: shines wood
- gastroenterology — the study of the structure, functions, and diseases of digestive organs.
- gastrointestinal — of, relating to, or affecting the stomach and intestines.
- gender selection — choosing the sex of a baby
- general aviation — aviation including business flying, sports flying, and crop dusting.
- general election — U.S. Politics. a regularly scheduled local, state, or national election in which voters elect officeholders. Compare primary (def 15). a state or national election, as opposed to a local election.
- general factotum — a person who does all sorts of jobs; general assistant
- general hospital — A general hospital is a hospital that does not specialize in the treatment of particular illnesses or patients.
- general solution — a solution to a differential equation that contains arbitrary, unevaluated constants.
- geochronologists — Plural form of geochronologist.
- get into trouble — be punished for wrongdoing
- girls' night out — an evening spent outside of the home by a group of women
- glory-of-the-sun — a bulbous, Chilean plant, Leucocoryne ixioides, of the amaryllis family, having fragrant, white or blue flowers.
- glottochronology — the branch of lexicostatistics that studies the rate of replacement of vocabulary and attempts to determine what percentage of basic vocabulary two presently distinct but related languages share, using the information thus obtained to estimate how long ago they ceased being a single language.
- golden parachute — an employment contract or agreement guaranteeing a key executive of a company substantial severance pay and other financial benefits in the event of job loss caused by the company's being sold or merged.
- golden rain tree — an ornamental tree, Koelreuteria paniculata, of the soapberry family, native to China and adjacent areas, having pinnate leaves, large clusters of fragrant yellow flowers, and inflated pods containing black seeds used as beads.