12-letter words containing o, a, k, r
- k/t boundary — Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary: the time zone comprising the end of the Cretaceous and the beginning of the Tertiary periods
- kakistocracy — government by the worst persons; a form of government in which the worst persons are in power.
- kalmar sound — a strait between SE Sweden and Öland Island. 85 miles (137 km) long; 14 miles (23 km) wide.
- kangaroo dog — an Australian breed of large rough-haired dog that resembles a greyhound and is bred to hunt kangaroos
- kangaroo paw — any plant of the Australian genus Anigozanthos, resembling a kangaroo's paw, esp the red-and-green flowered A. manglesii, which is the floral emblem of Western Australia: family Haemodoraceae
- kangaroo rat — any of various small jumping rodents of the family Heteromyidae, of Mexico and the western U.S.
- karlovy vary — a city in W Czech Republic: mineral springs; Carlsbad Decrees (1819).
- karyokinesis — mitosis.
- karyokinetic — Of or pertaining to karyokinesis.
- karyomapping — a technique for determining whether an embryo has inherited a genetic defect by analysing DNA taken from it and its close relatives
- kashmir goat — one of a long-haired breed of goat raised in Tibet and the higher elevations of China, the Indian subcontinent, Afghanistan, and Turkey for its meat, milk, and cashmere wool.
- katamorphism — metamorphism at or near the earth's surface: breaks down complex minerals into simpler ones.
- katharevousa — The purist form of modern Greek used in traditional literary writing, as opposed to the form that is spoken and used in everyday writing (called demotic).
- katharometer — (science) A device used for analyzing gas mixtures by measuring their thermal conductivity.
- 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.
- keratoplasty — plastic surgery performed upon the cornea, especially a corneal transplantation.
- keratotomies — Plural form of keratotomy.
- keraunograph — an instrument for recording thunderstorms by detecting the radio waves generated
- ketoaciduria — (pathology) The presence of (excess) ketoacids in the urine.
- keyboardists — Plural form of keyboardist.
- kilocalories — Plural form of kilocalorie.
- kinetography — a camera for taking pictures for a kinetoscope.
- king-of-arms — a title of certain of the principal heralds of England and certain other kingdoms empowered by their sovereigns to grant armorial bearings.
- kiteboarding — A sport in which participants ride a form of wakeboard or surfboard harnessed to a large kite which is controlled by the rider.
- kittikachorn — Thanom [thah-nom] /θɑˈnɒm/ (Show IPA), 1911–2004, Thai army officer and statesman: premier 1963–73.
- kleptocratic — a government or state in which those in power exploit national resources and steal; rule by a thief or thieves.
- kluge around — (jargon) To avoid a bug or difficult condition by inserting a kluge. Compare workaround.
- knock around — to strike a sounding blow with the fist, knuckles, or anything hard, especially on a door, window, or the like, as in seeking admittance, calling attention, or giving a signal: to knock on the door before entering.
- 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)
- korea strait — a strait between Korea and Japan, connecting the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea. 120 miles (195 km) long.
- korsakoffian — relating to or suffering from Korsakoff's psychosis
- kurchatovium — (chemistry) A rejected name for rutherfordium.
- labor market — the available supply of labor considered with reference to the demand for it.
- lake ontario — a province in S Canada, bordering on the Great Lakes. 412,582 sq. mi. (1,068,585 sq. km). Capital: Toronto.
- 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)
- lark sparrow — a North American sparrow, Chondestes grammacus, having a distinctive brown-and-white facial pattern.
- leader block — Nautical. lead block.
- library book — a book owned by a library
- lincoln park — a city in SE Michigan.
- loansharking — the practice of lending money at excessive rates of interest.
- lock forward — either of two players who make up the second line of the scrum and apply weight to the forwards in the front line
- locker plant — an establishment for storing food under refrigeration, containing lockers for renting to individual users.
- look daggers — to turn one's eyes toward something or in some direction in order to see: He looked toward the western horizon and saw the returning planes.
- looked-after — (of children) brought up by the state in institutions because their parents are dead or not able to care for them properly
- loudspeakers — Plural form of loudspeaker, especially a pair for a left and right channel.
- magnitogorsk — a city in the W Russian Federation in Asia, on the Ural River, near the boundary between Europe and Asia.
- makarios iii — (Michael Christodoulos Mouskos) 1913–77, Cypriot statesman and Greek Orthodox prelate: archbishop and patriarch of Cyprus 1950–77; president 1960–77 (in exile 1974).
- make history — do sth of great significance