12-letter words containing n, o, k, e
- keep tabs on — a small flap, strap, loop, or similar appendage, as on a garment, used for pulling, hanging, or decoration.
- keeping room — hall (def 11).
- ken thompson — (person) The principal inventor of the Unix operating system and author of the B language, the predecessor of C. In the early days Ken used to hand-cut Unix distribution tapes, often with a note that read "Love, ken". Old-timers still use his first name (sometimes uncapitalised, because it's a login name and mail address) in third-person reference; it is widely understood (on Usenet in particular) that without a last name "Ken" refers only to Ken Thompson. Similarly, Dennis without last name means Dennis Ritchie (and he is often known as dmr). Ken was first hired to work on the Multics project, which was a huge production with many people working on it. Multics was supposed to support hundreds of on-line logins but could barely handle three. In 1969, when Bell Labs withdrew from the project, Ken got fed up with Multics and went off to write his own operating system. People said "well, if zillions of people wrote Multics, then an OS written by one guy must be Unix!". There was some joking about eunichs as well. Ken's wife Bonnie and son Corey (then 18 months old) went to visit family in San Diego. Ken spent one week each on the kernel, file system, etc., and finished UNIX in one month along with developing SPACEWAR (or was it "Space Travel"?). See also back door, brute force, demigod, wumpus.
- kenny method — a method of treating poliomyelitis, in which hot, moist packs are applied to affected muscles to relieve spasms and pain, and a regimen of exercises is prescribed to prevent deformities and to strengthen the muscles.
- keratinocyte — An epidermal cell that produces keratin.
- keratogenous — producing horn or a horny substance.
- keratohyalin — (biology) A protein structure found in granules in the stratum granulosum of the epidermis, which may be involved in keratinization, and in Hassall corpuscles in the thymus.
- keraunograph — an instrument for recording thunderstorms by detecting the radio waves generated
- ketoconazole — a synthetic substance, C 26 H 28 Cl 2 N 4 O 4 , used to treat a variety of fungal infections.
- ketone group — the characteristic group occurring in ketones that consists of the carbonyl group attached to two alkyl groups.
- keystone kop — Usually, Keystone Kops. (in early silent movies) a team of comic policemen noted for their slapstick routines.
- khornerstone — A multipurpose benchmark from Workstation Labs used in various periodicals. The source is not free. Results are published in "UNIX Review".
- kick oneself — regret sth
- kidney donor — someone who donates one of their kidneys to be transplanted into another person
- kidney stone — an abnormal stone, or concretion, composed primarily of oxalates and phosphates, found in the kidney.
- kill oneself — to overexert oneself
- kindred soul — like-minded person
- kinesophobia — Fear of movement.
- kinetography — a camera for taking pictures for a kinetoscope.
- kinetoplasts — Plural form of kinetoplast.
- kingdom come — the next world; the hereafter; heaven.
- kirk session — the lowest court of the Presbyterian Church
- kitchen foil — aluminium foil used in cooking or storing food
- kitchen soap — heavy-duty soap intended for use in the kitchen
- kite balloon — a barrage balloon intended for use in information-gathering and observation; it is usually tethered to the ground and has lobes to keep it stable and pointing into the wind
- kiteboarding — A sport in which participants ride a form of wakeboard or surfboard harnessed to a large kite which is controlled by the rider.
- kitty-corner — diagonal.
- klein bottle — a one-sided figure consisting of a tapered tube the narrow end of which is bent back, run through the side of the tube, and flared to join the wide end, thereby allowing any two points on the figure to be joined by an unbroken line.
- kleptomaniac — a person who has kleptomania.
- kluge around — (jargon) To avoid a bug or difficult condition by inserting a kluge. Compare workaround.
- knocked down — hit and felled: by a vehicle, etc.
- knocked-down — composed of parts or units that can be disassembled: knocked-down furniture.
- know by name — to have heard of without having met
- knowableness — the quality of being knowable
- knowledgable — possessing or exhibiting knowledge, insight, or understanding; intelligent; well-informed; discerning; perceptive.
- knuckle down — a joint of a finger, especially one of the articulations of a metacarpal with a phalanx.
- knucklebones — (in humans) any of the bones forming a knuckle of a finger.
- kolyma range — a mountain range in NE Russia, in NE Siberia, extending about 1100 km (700 miles) between the Kolyma River and the Sea of Okhotsk. Highest peak: 1862 m (6109 ft)
- kona cyclone — a slow-moving cyclone occuring during the winter over the subtropical Pacific Ocean.
- kremlinology — the study of the government of the former Soviet Union, especially the study of those factors governing its foreign affairs.
- lake balaton — a large shallow lake in W Hungary. Area: 689 sq km (266 sq miles)
- lake jackson — a town in S Texas.
- lake nipigon — a lake in central Canada, in NW Ontario, draining into Lake Superior via the Nipigon River. Area: 4843 sq km (1870 sq miles)
- lake ontario — a province in S Canada, bordering on the Great Lakes. 412,582 sq. mi. (1,068,585 sq. km). Capital: Toronto.
- lake station — a town in NW Indiana.
- lake torrens — a shallow salt lake in E central South Australia, about 8 m (25 ft) below sea level. Area: 5776 sq km (2230 sq miles)
- lancet clock — a mantel clock having a case formed like an acutely pointed arch.
- leon trotsky — Leon (Lev or Leib, Davidovich Bronstein) 1879–1940, Russian revolutionary and writer: minister of war 1918–25.
- lesser-known — less widely known; less famous
- leukotrienes — Plural form of leukotriene.