12-letter words containing n, a, p, h
- can't happen — (programming) The traditional program comment for code executed under a condition that should never be true, for example a file size computed as negative. Often, such a condition being true indicates data corruption or a faulty algorithm; it is almost always handled by emitting a fatal error message and terminating or crashing, since there is little else that can be done. Some case variant of "can't happen" is also often the text emitted if the "impossible" error actually happens. Although "can't happen" events are genuinely infrequent in production code, programmers wise enough to check for them habitually are often surprised at how frequently they are triggered during development and how many headaches checking for them turns out to head off. See also firewall code, professional programming.
- cancerphobia — an excessive fear of getting cancer
- cap'n crunch — Captain Crunch
- cape dezhnev — a cape in NE Russia at the E end of Chukchi Peninsula: the northeasternmost point of Asia
- cardinalship — The office (or term of office) of a cardinal.
- cash payment — an immediate payment in cash
- catch points — railway points designed to derail a train running back in the wrong direction to prevent collision with a following train
- catching pen — a pen adjacent to a shearer's stand containing the sheep ready for shearing
- chairmanship — The chairmanship of a committee or organization is the fact of being its chairperson. Someone's chairmanship can also mean the period during which they are chairperson.
- chairpersons — Plural form of chairperson.
- championship — A championship is a competition to find the best player or team in a particular sport.
- chandragupta — Greek name Sandracottos. died ?297 bc, ruler of N India, who founded the Maurya dynasty (325) and defeated Seleucus (?305)
- change point — a point to which a foresight and backsight are taken in levelling; turning point
- change purse — A change purse is a very small bag that people, especially women, keep their money in.
- changepocket — a small pocket or compartment for holding coins.
- channel port — one of the English or French ports on the English Channel
- chaplinesque — characteristic of or resembling the comedy or filmmaking style of Charlie Chaplin.
- chapter ring — a ringlike band on the dial of a clock that bears the numerals or other symbols of the hours.
- chat-up line — A chat-up line is a remark that someone makes in order to start a conversation with someone they do not know but find sexually attractive.
- cheddar pink — a low, mat-forming European plant, Dianthus gratianopolitanus, of the pink family, having solitary, fragrant, rose-colored flowers with fringed petals.
- cheeseparing — penny-pinching; stingy
- chilpancingo — a town in S Mexico, capital of Guerrero state, in the Sierra Madre del Sur. Pop: 166 000 (2005 est)
- chip and dip — a bowl or plate for holding potato chips or crackers with a smaller bowl, often placed in the center, for holding dip: usually sold as a set.
- chip and pin — Chip and PIN is a method of paying for goods you have bought by using both a bank card and a PIN number.
- chip carving — wood carving, usually executed with a knife and characterized by small incisions and simple geometrical patterns.
- chiropterans — Plural form of chiropteran.
- chota nagpur — a plateau in E India, mainly in Jharkhand state since 2000: forested, with rich mineral resources and much heavy industry; produces chiefly lac (world's leading supplier), coal (half India's total output), and mica
- christophany — an appearance or emergence of Christ following his crucifixion
- chronographs — Plural form of chronograph.
- chronography — an arrangement of past events
- chronophobia — Fear of the passing of time, or more generally of time itself.
- chrysophanol — (organic compound) A chemical compound found in rhubarb.
- chthonophagy — (disease) Alternative form of chthonophagia.
- chump change — Slang. a small or insignificant amount of money.
- cinder patch — a defect on steel caused by the accidental picking up of matter, as from the bottom of a soaking pit.
- copy machine — A copy machine is the same as a copier.
- coronagraphs — Plural form of coronagraph.
- craftmanship — Alternative form of craftsmanship.
- craniography — examination of the skull as depicted by craniographs, photographs, and charts.
- crapehanging — the practice of hanging crape, esp as a sign of mourning
- crepe-hanger — a person who sees the gloomy side of things; pessimist.
- cycloheptane — (organic compound) An alicyclic hydrocarbon, C7H14; a volatile inflammable liquid.
- daphnephoria — an ancient Greek festival in honor of Apollo.
- demonography — a treatise on demons.
- detectaphone — a device for listening secretly to others' telephone conversations
- diaphanously — In a diaphanous manner or to a diaphanous extent.
- diencephalic — Of or pertaining to the diencephalon.
- diencephalon — the posterior section of the forebrain.
- dodecaphonic — musical composition using the 12-tone technique.
- dolphinarium — An aquarium in which dolphins are kept and trained for public entertainment.