16-letter words containing o, r, i
- alligator lizard — any of several lizards of the genera Algaria and Gerrhonotus, of western North America, having shinglelike scales and a fold along each side that permits expansion.
- alligator pepper — a tropical African zingiberaceous plant, Amomum melegueta, having red or orange spicy seed capsules
- alligator wrench — a wrench having a V -shaped pair of serrated jaws set at right angles to the shank for turning cylindrical or irregularly shaped parts.
- alpha conversion — (theory) In lambda-calculus and reduction, the renaming of a formal parameter in a lambda abstraction. This does not change the meaning of the abstraction. For example: \ x . x+1 <--> \ y . y+1 If the actual argument to a lambda abstraction contains instances of the abstraction's formal parameter then it is necessary to rename the parameter before applying the abstraction to avoid name capture.
- alpha-interferon — interferon (def 2).
- alternative rock — a broad category of popular rock music typically regarded as somewhat out of the mainstream and variously including elements of punk rock, heavy metal, folk music, etc.
- alternative vote — of or relating to a system of voting in which voters list the candidates in order of preference. If no candidate obtains more than 50% of first-preference votes, the votes for the bottom candidate are redistributed according to the voters' next preference
- aluminium bronze — any of a range of copper alloys that contain between 5 and 10 per cent aluminium
- alvarez quintero — Joa‧ˈquín (hwɑˈkin ) ; hwäkēnˈ) 1873-1944; Sp. playwright
- ambidextrousness — The state or quality of being ambidextrous.
- amending formula — a specified process or procedure by which a constitution may be amended
- american buffalo — bison (def 1).
- american cowslip — shooting star (def 2).
- amerigo vespucci — Amerigo [uh-mer-i-goh;; Italian ah-me-ree-gaw] /əˈmɛr ɪˌgoʊ;; Italian ˌɑ mɛˈri gɔ/ (Show IPA), (Americus Vespucius) 1451–1512, Italian merchant, adventurer, and explorer after whom America was named.
- amidinohydrazone — any of a group of pesticides, originally developed as antimalarial and antitubercular drugs, that impair cell respiration in cockroaches, red ants, and other insects.
- aminocitric acid — an amino acid, C 6 H 9 O 7 N, that is a component of calf thymus ribonucleoprotein.
- aminotransferase — transaminase.
- ammonium nitrate — a colourless highly soluble crystalline solid used mainly as a fertilizer and in explosives and pyrotechnics. Formula: NH4NO3
- anabolic steroid — Anabolic steroids are drugs which people, especially athletes, take to make their muscles bigger and to give them more strength.
- anal intercourse — a form of sexual intercourse in which the penis is inserted into the anus
- analog recording — a method of sound recording in which an input audio waveform is converted to an analogous waveform.
- ancestor worship — (in certain societies) the veneration of ancestors whose spirits are frequently held to possess the power to influence the affairs of the living.
- ancienne-lorette — a town in S Quebec, in E Canada.
- andromeda strain — a hypothetical microorganism, as might be developed from biological research, that if released would uncontrollably kill living things on earth
- angiographically — By the use of angiography.
- anglo-australian — belonging, relating to, or involving England and Australia, or the people of the two countries.
- angular velocity — the velocity of a body rotating about a specified axis measured as the rate of change of the angle subtended at that axis by the path of the body
- anharmonic ratio — cross ratio.
- animated cartoon — a film produced by photographing a series of gradually changing drawings, etc, which give the illusion of movement when the series is projected rapidly
- anne of brittany — 1477–1514, wife of Maximilian I of Austria 1490–91; queen consort of Charles VIII of France 1491–98; queen consort of Louis XII of France 1499–1514.
- annus horribilis — a terrible year
- anode resistance — (of a vacuum tube at a given level of output) the ratio of a small change in voltage of the anode to the corresponding small change in anode current.
- anomalistic year — the interval between two successive passages of the earth through perihelion; 365.25964 mean solar days
- anopisthographic — a manuscript, parchment, or book having writing on only one side of the leaves.
- anorexia nervosa — an eating disorder primarily affecting adolescent girls and young women, characterized by pathological fear of becoming fat, distorted body image, excessive dieting, and emaciation.
- anterioposterior — Alternative form of anteroposterior.
- anthropocentrism — an anthropocentric theory or view.
- anthropometrical — Pertaining to anthropometry.
- anthropomorphise — Non-Oxford British standard spelling of anthropomorphize.
- anthropomorphism — Anthropomorphism is the idea that an animal, a god, or an object has feelings or characteristics like those of a human being.
- anthropomorphist — One who anthropomorphizes.
- anthropomorphize — to attribute or ascribe human form or behaviour to (a god, animal, object, etc)
- anthropophagites — Plural form of anthropophagite.
- anthroposemiotic — Of or pertaining to anthroposemiotics.
- anthroposophical — of or relating to anthroposophy
- anti-abortionist — An anti-abortionist is someone who wants to limit or prevent the legal availability of abortions.
- anti-aphrodisiac — Also, aphrodisiacal [af-ruh-duh-zahy-uh-kuh l, -sahy-] /ˌæf rə dəˈzaɪ ə kəl, -ˈsaɪ-/ (Show IPA). arousing sexual desire.
- anti-consumerism — a modern movement for the protection of the consumer against useless, inferior, or dangerous products, misleading advertising, unfair pricing, etc.
- anti-immigration — the act of immigrating.
- anti-integration — an act or instance of combining into an integral whole.