13-letter words containing o, n, r, f, t
- fat electrons — (electronics, humour) Old-time hacker David Cargill's theory on the cause of computer glitches. Your typical electricity company draws its line current out of the big generators with a pair of coil taps located near the top of the dynamo. When the normal tap brushes get dirty, they take them off line to clean them up, and use special auxiliary taps on the *bottom* of the coil. Now, this is a problem, because when they do that they get not ordinary or "thin" electrons, but the fat sloppy electrons that are heavier and so settle to the bottom of the generator. These flow down ordinary wires just fine, but when they have to turn a sharp corner (as in an integrated-circuit via), they're apt to get stuck. This is what causes computer glitches. Compare bogon, magic smoke.
- fermentations — Plural form of fermentation.
- fermentitious — of a fermenting nature
- ferroconcrete — reinforced concrete.
- ferromagnetic — noting or pertaining to a substance, as iron, that below a certain temperature, the Curie point, can possess magnetization in the absence of an external magnetic field; noting or pertaining to a substance in which the magnetic moments of the atoms are aligned.
- ferrotitanium — a ferroalloy containing up to 45 percent titanium.
- ferrotungsten — a ferroalloy containing up to 80 percent tungsten.
- fertilisation — (chiefly, British) alternative spelling of 'fertilization'.
- fertilization — an act, process, or instance of fertilizing.
- fighting word — Usually, fighting words. language that arouses rage in an antagonist.
- firing stroke — The firing stroke is the stroke of an engine in which the fuel is burned and energy sent to the piston.
- firnification — the process by which snow changes into névé.
- first edition — the whole number of copies of a literary work printed first, from the same type, and issued together.
- flavoproteins — Plural form of flavoprotein.
- floating rate — fluctuating exchange rate
- floating ribs — the eleventh and twelfth pairs of ribs, not attached to the breastbone or to other ribs but only to the vertebrae
- floating roof — A floating roof is an internal roof of a fuel storage tank.
- flood control — the act or technique of controlling river flow with dams, dikes, artificial channels, etc., so as to minimize the occurrence of floods.
- floor trading — trading by personal contact on the floor of a market or exchange
- flugelhornist — One who plays the flugelhorn.
- fluorescently — In a fluorescent manner; using fluorescence.
- flying doctor — a doctor listed with local authorities as willing to be flown to remote areas to give emergency medical care.
- foerstner bit — a bit for drilling blind holes, guided from the rim rather than from the center to permit it to enter the wood at an oblique angle.
- fonctionnaire — a civil servant
- fons et origo — the source and origin
- food industry — the industry surrounding the production of food
- foot-dragging — reluctance or failure to proceed or act promptly.
- for one thing — the first reason is
- for-instances — an instance or example: Give me a for-instance of what you mean.
- foreign agent — a spy for a foreign country
- forementioned — Mentioned earlier or above; already cited.
- foreshortened — Simple past tense and past participle of foreshorten.
- forest ranger — any of the officers employed by the government to supervise the care and preservation of forests, especially public forests.
- forget-me-not — either of two small Old World plants, Myosotis sylvatica or M. scorpioides, of the borage family, having a light-blue flower commonly regarded as an emblem of constancy and friendship.
- forgetfulness — apt to forget; that forgets: a forgetful person.
- forgotten man — a person no longer in the mind of the general public.
- forgottenness — the status of being forgotten
- forked tongue — lying or deceitful talk
- form function — (jargon) The shape of something designed. This term is currently (Feb 1998) in vogue among marketroids.
- formalisation — Alternative spelling of formalization.
- formalization — to make formal, especially for the sake of official or authorized acceptance: to formalize an understanding by drawing up a legal contract.
- fort dearborn — a former U.S. fort on the site of Chicago, 1803–37.
- fort donelson — Fort Donelson.
- fort duquesne — Abraham [a-bra-am] /a braˈam/ (Show IPA), 1610–88, French naval commander.
- fort monmouth — a military reservation and U.S. Army training center in E central New Jersey, SE of Red Bank; site of signal school.
- fort sheridan — a military reservation in NE Illinois, on W shore of Lake Michigan S of Lake Forest.
- forthbringing — Present participle of forthbring.
- fortification — the act of fortifying or strengthening.
- fortitudinous — having or showing fortitude; marked by bravery or courage.
- fortnightlies — Plural form of fortnightly.