18-letter words containing p, a, c, e
- creeping paralysis — any slow process that causes a system, government, etc, to stop working efficiently
- crookes dark space — the dark space between the cathode glow and the negative glow in a vacuum tube, occurring when the pressure is low.
- crystal microphone — a microphone that uses a piezoelectric crystal to convert sound energy into electrical energy
- cumberland plateau — division of the W Appalachians, extending from S W.Va. to N Ala.
- curvature of space — (in relativity) a property of space near massive bodies in which their gravitational field causes light to travel along curved paths.
- cyclopean concrete — concrete containing stones larger than 6 inches (15 cm).
- decachlorobiphenyl — (organic compound) The fully chlorinated polychlorinated biphenyl containing ten chlorine atoms.
- decompartmentalize — to remove excessive compartmentalization from (an organization)
- deficiency payment — a payment made to a commodity producer that represents the difference between the market price and the guaranteed price
- dependency grammar — a type of generative grammar in which grammatical structure is determined by the relationship between a governor and its dependents
- depth-first search — (algorithm) A graph search algorithm which extends the current path as far as possible before backtracking to the last choice point and trying the next alternative path. Depth-first search may fail to find a solution if it enters a cycle in the graph. This can be avoided if we never extend a path to a node which it already contains. Opposite of breadth first search. See also iterative deepening.
- descriptive clause — a relative clause that describes or supplements but is not essential in establishing the identity of the antecedent and is usually set off by commas in English. In This year, which has been dry, is bad for crops the clause which has been dry is a nonrestrictive clause.
- dialytic telescope — a type of achromatic telescope with a second correcting lens
- diphosphoglycerate — an ester of phosphoric acid and glyceric acid that occurs in the blood and that promotes the release of hemoglobin-bound oxygen.
- diphtheria vaccine — a vaccine used to produce immunity against diphtheria
- diplomatic service — diplomatic corps
- diplomatic shuttle — a series of diplomatic visits to other states made by an official, such as an ambassador or envoy
- discharge printing — a fabric-printing method in which the material is dyed and then certain areas are discharged so as to permit the original hue or its color replacement to act as a pattern against the colored ground.
- dispatch documents — documents sent with a parcel, etc, detailing information such as contents, delivery address, etc
- doctype decoration — (humour) When a web author adds a doctype declaration but doesn't bother to write valid HTML.
- domestic appliance — a machine used for household tasks, for example, a washing machine, refrigerator, etc.
- dominican republic — a republic in the West Indies, occupying the E part of the island of Hispaniola. 19,129 sq. mi. (49,545 sq. km). Capital: Santo Domingo.
- domremy-la-pucelle — a village in Lorraine, NE France, SW of Nancy: birthplace of Joan of Arc.
- due process of law — the administration of justice in accordance with established rules and principles
- dynamically scoped — dynamic scope
- east india company — the company chartered by the English government in 1600 to carry on trade in the East Indies: dissolved in 1874.
- echoencephalograph — a device that employs reflected ultrasonic waves to examine the position of brain structures.
- eclipsing variable — a variable star whose changes in brightness are caused by periodic eclipses of two stars in a binary system.
- economic geography — a branch of geography that deals with the relation of physical and economic conditions to the production and utilization of raw materials and their manufacture into finished products.
- egg and spoon race — a novelty race in which contestants each carry an egg in a spoon to the finish line, the winner being the first to finish without dropping or breaking the egg.
- egg-and-spoon race — a race in which runners carry an egg balanced in a spoon
- eggshell porcelain — a type of very thin translucent porcelain originally made in China
- ejaculatio praecox — premature ejaculation during sexual intercourse
- electric potential — the work required to transfer a unit positive electric charge from an infinite distance to a given point against an electric field
- electroacupuncture — the insertion into the body of one or more needles through which an electric current is passed
- electrocardiograph — A machine used for electrocardiography.
- electron transport — the metabolic process in mitochondria or chloroplasts, in which electrons are transferred in stages from energy-rich compounds to molecular oxygen with liberation of energy
- electrophotography — Any of several methods of photocopying in which an image is created and then transferred between surfaces using static electricity.
- electrotherapeutic — Relating to electrotherapeutics.
- endangered species — animal, plant becoming extinct
- epicycloidal wheel — one of the planetary gears of an epicyclic train
- equinoctial spring — either of the two highest spring tides that occur at the equinoxes
- escape sb's notice — If something escapes your notice, you fail to recognize it or realize it.
- ethnopsychological — Relating to ethnopsychology.
- european community — an economic and political association of European States that came into being in 1967, when the legislative and executive bodies of the European Economic Community merged with those of the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community: subsumed into the European Union in 1993
- examination script — a script with answers written on it by an examination candidate taking a written examination
- excess profits tax — a tax on profits exceeding a certain amount
- exchange programme — an arrangement in which people from different countries visit each other's country, perhaps to strengthen links between them or to improve foreign language skills
- exercise programme — a programme detailing a range of physical exercises and the amount of time each exercise should be performed, used especially in gymnasiums, where they are typically tailored to individuals' needs
- extermination camp — a camp where people are imprisoned and killed