14-letter words containing p, l, a, u
- parallel ruler — a drawing instrument in which two parallel edges are connected so that they remain parallel, although the distance between them can be varied
- parish council — local administrative body
- parquet circle — parterre (def 1).
- parsimoniously — characterized by or showing parsimony; frugal or stingy.
- parti-coloured — having different colours in different parts; variegated
- partial vacuum — an enclosed space from which part of the air or another gas has been removed.
- particularized — individualized
- particularness — the quality of being exceptional or individual
- pasteurellosis — hemorrhagic septicemia.
- peanut allergy — a condition of being hypersensitive to peanuts and peanut substances which can lead to severe physical symptoms if peanuts or peanut substances are consumed
- peanut gallery — Informal. the rearmost and cheapest section of seats in the balcony or the uppermost balcony of a theater.
- penalty clause — part of contract specifying a forfeit
- penalty double — business double.
- pendulum watch — (formerly) a watch having a balance wheel, especially a balance wheel bearing a fake pendulum bob oscillating behind a window in the dial.
- peninsular war — the war (1808–14) fought in the Iberian Peninsula by British, Portuguese, and Spanish forces against the French, resulting in the defeat of the French: part of the Napoleonic Wars
- pennatulaceous — of or relating to a sea pen
- penny dreadful — a cheap, sensational novel of adventure, crime, or violence; dime novel.
- penny-dreadful — a cheap, sensational novel of adventure, crime, or violence; dime novel.
- percutaneously — through the skin
- perlocutionary — (of a speech act) producing an effect upon the listener, as in persuading, frightening, amusing, or causing the listener to act.
- permaculturist — a system of cultivation intended to maintain permanent agriculture or horticulture by relying on renewable resources and a self-sustaining ecosystem.
- persian walnut — English walnut.
- pertinaciously — holding tenaciously to a purpose, course of action, or opinion; resolute.
- perturbational — relating to perturbation
- pharmaceutical — pertaining to pharmacy or pharmacists.
- phenylbutazone — a potent substance, C 1 9 H 2 0 N 2 O 2 , used to reduce pain and inflammation in rheumatic diseases and gout, and used in veterinary medicine for musculoskeletal disorders.
- phenylthiourea — a crystalline, slightly water-soluble solid, C 6 H 5 NHCSNH 2 , that is either tasteless or bitter, depending upon the heredity of the taster, and is used in medical genetics and as a diagnostic.
- photoduplicate — photocopy.
- picture layout — a picture spread. See under spread (def 33).
- piecrust table — a table having a top, usually round, with a raised and intricately carved edge.
- plain language — language that is clear and easy to understand, with no ambiguity or unnecessarily difficult words
- plastic bullet — A plastic bullet is a large bullet made of plastic, which is intended to make people stop rioting, rather than to kill people.
- platinum black — a black powder consisting of very finely divided metallic platinum, used as a catalyst, especially in organic synthesis.
- platinum metal — any of the group of precious metallic elements consisting of ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, and platinum
- platinum-blond — (of hair) of a pale silver-blond colour
- platycephalous — flat-headed
- pleasurability — the characteristic of being pleasurable
- pleasure craft — A pleasure craft is the same as a pleasure boat.
- plenum-chamber — a system of mechanical ventilation in which fresh air is forced into the spaces to be ventilated from a chamber (plenum chamber) at a pressure slightly higher than atmospheric pressure, so as to expel foul air.
- pleural cavity — a narrow, fluid-filled space between the pleural membranes of the lung and the inner chest wall.
- pleurapophysis — one of the lateral processes of a vertebra forming the ribs
- plumber's mate — a person who helps a plumber do his or her job
- pneumatic pile — a hollow pile, used under water, in which a vacuum is induced so that air and water pressure force it into place.
- pneumobacillus — a bacterium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, causing a type of pneumonia and associated with certain other diseases, especially of the respiratory tract.
- podophthalmous — relating to a crustacean
- polar equation — an equation in which the variables are polar coordinates.
- polar molecule — a molecule in which the centroid of the positive charges is different from the centroid of the negative charges.
- polar outbreak — a vigorous thrust of cold, polar air across temperate regions.
- polar sequence — a series of stars in the vicinity of the N celestial pole whose accurately determined magnitudes serve as the standard for visual and photographic magnitudes of stars
- polemoniaceous — belonging to the Polemoniaceae, the phlox family of plants.