15-letter words containing o, u, t, s, i
- null hypothesis — (in the statistical testing of a hypothesis) the hypothesis to be tested.
- numismatologist — One versed in numismatology.
- nyquist theorem — (communications) A theorem stating that when an analogue waveform is digitised, only the frequencies in the waveform below half the sampling frequency will be recorded. In order to reconstruct (interpolate) a signal from a sequence of samples, sufficient samples must be recorded to capture the peaks and troughs of the original waveform. If a waveform is sampled at less than twice its frequency the reconstructed waveform will effectively contribute only noise. This phenomenon is called "aliasing" (the high frequencies are "under an alias"). This is why the best digital audio is sampled at 44,000 Hz - twice the average upper limit of human hearing. The Nyquist Theorem is not specific to digitised signals (represented by discrete amplitude levels) but applies to any sampled signal (represented by discrete time values), not just sound.
- oblique section — a representation of an object as it would appear if cut by a plane that is other than parallel or perpendicular to its longest axis.
- obstructionists — Plural form of obstructionist.
- obstructiveness — The characteristic of being obstructive.
- obtuse triangle — a triangle with one obtuse angle.
- omnibus edition — a television or radio programme consisting of two or more programmes broadcast earlier in the week
- open university — higher education by correspondence
- opisthognathous — having receding jaws.
- opposite number — counterpart; equivalent: New members with an interest in folk art will find their opposite numbers in the association's directory.
- ornithorhynchus — the platypus.
- ostreiculturist — a person who breeds oysters
- out of business — If a shop or company goes out of business or is put out of business, it has to stop trading because it is not making enough money.
- out of sight of — not in sight
- outdoorsmanship — a person devoted to outdoor sports and recreational activities, as hiking, hunting, fishing, or camping.
- outer barrister — a barrister belonging to the outer bar.
- outside caliper — a caliper whose legs turn inward so that it can measure outside dimensions, as the diameter of a rod.
- outside forward — one of two attacking players who usually play on the far side of the field; wing.
- outside the box — a container, case, or receptacle, usually rectangular, of wood, metal, cardboard, etc., and often with a lid or removable cover.
- outstandingness — prominent; conspicuous; striking: an outstanding example of courage.
- over-enthusiasm — absorbing or controlling possession of the mind by any interest or pursuit; lively interest: He shows marked enthusiasm for his studies.
- over-solicitous — too solicitous: oversolicitous concerning one's health.
- overconsumption — the act of consuming, as by use, decay, or destruction.
- overspeculation — the contemplation or consideration of some subject: to engage in speculation on humanity's ultimate destiny.
- overstimulation — to rouse to action or effort, as by encouragement or pressure; spur on; incite: to stimulate his interest in mathematics.
- ozark mountains — an eroded plateau in S Missouri, N Arkansas, and NE Oklahoma. Area: about 130 000 sq km (50 000 sq miles)
- parti québécois — (in Canada) a political party in Quebec, formed in 1968 and originally advocating the separation of Quebec from the rest of the country
- past continuous — past progressive.
- percussion tool — a power driven tool which operates by striking rapid blows: the power may be electricity or compressed air
- perfunctoriness — performed merely as a routine duty; hasty and superficial: perfunctory courtesy.
- petit bourgeois — a person who belongs to the petite bourgeoisie.
- petty bourgeois — petit bourgeois
- photojournalism — journalism in which photography dominates written copy, as in certain magazines.
- pictorial janus — K. Kahn, Xerox. Visual extension of Janus. Requires Strand88 and a PostScript interpreter.
- pithecanthropus — a former genus of extinct hominids whose members have now been assigned to the proposed species Homo erectus.
- plagiostomatous — plagiostome
- plantaginaceous — relating to or belonging to the family Plantaginaceae
- plastic surgeon — doctor who performs cosmetic surgery
- platitudinously — in a platitudinal manner
- play favourites — to display favouritism
- plunket society — the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children
- polyisobutylene — a polymer of isobutylene, used chiefly in the manufacture of synthetic rubber.
- positive column — the luminous region between the Faraday dark space and the anode glow in a vacuum tube, occurring when the pressure is low.
- posse comitatus — the body of persons that a peace officer of a county is empowered to call upon for assistance in preserving the peace, making arrests, and serving writs.
- post-industrial — of, relating to, or characteristic of an era following industrialization: The economy of the postindustrial society is based on the provision of services rather than on the manufacture of goods.
- post-parturient — bearing or about to bear young; travailing.
- post-production — In film and television, post-production is the work such as editing that takes place after the film has been shot.
- post-revolution — an overthrow or repudiation and the thorough replacement of an established government or political system by the people governed.
- postdevaluation — the period following the devaluation of a currency