14-letter words containing n, a, i, k
- plain speaking — expressing oneself directly
- platinum black — a black powder consisting of very finely divided metallic platinum, used as a catalyst, especially in organic synthesis.
- prawn cocktail — A prawn cocktail is a dish that consists of prawns, salad, and a sauce. It is usually eaten at the beginning of a meal.
- printer's mark — a stamp or device, usually found on the copyright page, that identifies a book as the work of a particular printer.
- quaker meeting — a meeting of Quakers, at which all members, except those moved to speak, remain silent.
- quarterbacking — a back in football who usually lines up immediately behind the center and directs the offense of the team.
- quiescent tank — a tank, usually for sewage sludge, in which the sludge is allowed to remain for a time so that sedimentation can occur
- quotation mark — one of the marks used to indicate the beginning and end of a quotation, in English usually shown as “ at the beginning and ” at the end, or, for a quotation within a quotation, of single marks of this kind, as “He said, ‘I will go.’ ” Frequently, especially in Great Britain, single marks are used instead of double, the latter being then used for a quotation within a quotation.
- raking cornice — either of two straight, sloping cornices on a pediment following or suggesting the slopes of a roof.
- rank-and-filer — a member of the rank and file.
- re-embarkation — the act of boarding a ship or aircraft again
- recklinghausen — a city in NW Rhine-Westphalia, in Germany.
- reefing jacket — a man's short double-breasted jacket of sturdy wool
- retail banking — banking for individual customers
- ringneck snake — any of several small, nonvenomous North American snakes of the genus Diadophis, usually having a conspicuous yellow or orange ring around the neck.
- rip van winkle — (in a story by Washington Irving) a ne'er-do-well who sleeps 20 years and upon waking is startled to find how much the world has changed.
- roanoke island — an island off the NE coast of North Carolina, S of Albemarle Sound: site of Raleigh's unsuccessful colonizing attempts 1585, 1587.
- roanoke rapids — a city in NE North Carolina.
- rock formation — rock that is arranged or formed in a certain way
- rock mechanics — the study of the mechanical behaviour of rocks, esp their strength, elasticity, permeability, porosity, density, and reaction to stress
- roller-skating — the act of moving on roller skates
- rotating stock — Rotating stock is a system used especially in food stores and to reduce wastage, in which the oldest stock is moved to the front of shelves and new stock is added at the back.
- rude awakening — If you have a rude awakening, you are suddenly made aware of an unpleasant fact.
- ryukyu islands — a chain of 55 islands in the W Pacific, extending almost 650 km (400 miles) from S Japan to N Taiwan: an ancient kingdom, under Chinese rule from the late 14th century, invaded by Japan in the early 17th century, under full Japanese sovereignty from 1879 to 1945, and US control from 1945 to 1972; now part of Japan again. They are subject to frequent typhoons. Chief town: Naha (on Okinawa). Pop: 1 318 220 (2000). Area: 2196 sq km (849 sq miles)
- satellite link — a link between a transmitting station and a receiving station via an artificial satellite
- schumann-heink — Ernestine, 1861–1936, U.S. contralto, born in Bohemia.
- serial killing — multiple killings or murders carried out by the same person or persons
- shabby-looking — appearing old and in bad condition
- shark-infested — (of a body of water) known to contain large numbers of sharks, and therefore considered to be dangerous
- shooting brake — station wagon.
- shrink-wrapped — A shrink-wrapped product is sold in a tight covering of thin plastic.
- siberian husky — one of a Siberian breed of medium-size dogs having a thick, soft coat, raised originally as sled dogs.
- sick and tired — afflicted with ill health or disease; ailing.
- silky anteater — an arboreal, tropical American anteater, Cyclopes didactylus, about the size of a rat, having a prehensile tail, glossy, golden fur, and two toes on each forelimb.
- skiing holiday — a holiday taken (esp to somewhere that it snows) for the purpose of going skiing
- skin and bones — a condition or state of extreme thinness, usually the result of malnutrition; emaciation: Anorexia had reduced her to skin and bones.
- skirting board — fabric for making skirts.
- smoking jacket — a loose-fitting jacket for men, often of a heavy fabric and trimmed with braid, worn indoors, especially as a lounging jacket.
- smooth-talking — A smooth-talking man talks very confidently in a way that is likely to persuade people, but may not be sincere or honest.
- social drinker — a person who drinks alcoholic beverages usually in the company of others and is in control of his or her drinking.
- social network — a network of friends, colleagues, and other personal contacts: Strong social networks can encourage healthy behaviors.
- sorting tracks — the part of a railroad yard used for the final sorting of cars from a classification yard.
- space sickness — a complex of symptoms including nausea, lethargy, headache, and sweating, occurring among astronauts under conditions of weightlessness.
- sparkling wine — a wine that is naturally carbonated by a second fermentation.
- speaking clock — a telephone service that gives a precise verbal statement of the correct time
- speaking terms — if you are on speaking terms with someone, you are quite friendly with them and often talk to them
- speaking voice — a person's normal voice in which they speak
- spick and span — spotlessly clean and neat: a spick-and-span kitchen.
- spick-and-span — spotlessly clean and neat: a spick-and-span kitchen.
- spike lavender — a lavender, Lavandula latifolia, having spikes of pale-purple flowers, and yielding an oil used in painting.