14-letter words containing p, r, i, s
- singular point — a point at which a given function of a complex variable has no derivative but of which every neighborhood contains points at which the function has derivatives.
- siphonapterous — belonging or pertaining to the insect order Siphonaptera, comprising the fleas.
- sitting pretty — (of a bird) occupying a nest of eggs for hatching.
- skull practice — a meeting for the purpose of discussion, exchange of ideas, solving problems, etc.
- sleep learning — the act or process of learning during sleep by listening to recordings repeatedly.
- sleep-learning — the idea that people can learn things while they are asleep
- sleeping berth — a bunk for sleeping on on a train or boat
- sleeping chair — a chair of the 17th century, having a high back, usually adjustable, with deep wings of the same height.
- sleeping porch — a porch enclosed with glass or screening or a room with open sides or a row of windows used for sleeping in the open air.
- slip your mind — If something slips your mind, you forget about it.
- slippery slope — a dangerous and irreversible course: the slippery slope from narcotics to prison.
- smear campaign — a campaign to tarnish the reputation of a public figure, especially by vilification or innuendo.
- snippersnapper — an insignificant but pretentious person
- social chapter — The social chapter is an agreement between countries in the European Union concerning workers' rights and working conditions.
- social process — the means by which culture and social organization change or are preserved.
- space invaders — a video or computer game, the object of which is to destroy attacking alien spacecraft
- spanish arabic — the Arabic language as used in Spain during the period of Moorish domination and influence, c900–1500. Abbreviation: SpAr.
- spanish armada — Armada (def 1).
- spanish burton — any of several tackles employing a runner in addition to the fall.
- spanish dagger — a stemless or short-trunked plant, Yucca gloriosa, of the agave family, native to the southeastern U.S., having leaves nearly 2½ feet (75 cm) long, with a stiff, sharp point, and greenish-white or reddish flowers nearly 4 inches (10 cm) wide.
- spanish guitar — acoustic guitar.
- spanish sahara — former name of Western Sahara.
- sparkling wine — a wine that is naturally carbonated by a second fermentation.
- sparring match — a practice boxing match
- spatiotemporal — pertaining to space-time.
- speaking terms — if you are on speaking terms with someone, you are quite friendly with them and often talk to them
- spear-phishing — the practice of sending fraudulent e-mails to extract financial data from computer users for purposes of identity theft, by mimicking a sender that the recipient knows
- spearfisherman — a person who engages in spearfishing.
- special branch — The Special Branch is the department of the British police that is concerned with political security and deals with things such as terrorism and visits by foreign leaders.
- special forces — crack military team
- specrate_int92 — (benchmark) The integer SPECrate derived from the results of a set of integer benchmarks (the geometric mean of six SPEC rates from CINT92) run multiple times simultaneously, and can be used to estimate a machine's overall multi-tasking throughput for integer code. It is typically used on multiprocessor machines. SPECrate_int92 obsoletes SPECintThruput89. See also SPECbaserate.
- spectacularity — of or like a spectacle; marked by or given to an impressive, large-scale display.
- spectrological — relating to spectres or spectrology
- spectroscopist — the science that deals with the use of the spectroscope and with spectrum analysis.
- speech-reading — the act or process of determining the intended meaning of a speaker by utilizing all visual clues accompanying speech attempts, as lip movements, facial expressions, and bodily gestures, used especially by people with impaired hearing.
- spelling error — an error in the conventionally accepted form of spelling a word
- spending power — income available for spending
- spending spree — a brief period of extravagant spending
- spermatic cord — the cord by which a testis is suspended in the scrotum, containing the vas deferens and the blood vessels and nerves of the testis.
- spermatogonium — one of the undifferentiated germ cells giving rise to spermatocytes.
- spermiogenesis — the development of a spermatozoon from a spermatid.
- sphaeristerium — an ancient Roman handball court.
- spider phaeton — (formerly) a light horse-drawn carriage with a high body and large slender wheels
- spike lavender — a lavender, Lavandula latifolia, having spikes of pale-purple flowers, and yielding an oil used in painting.
- spinning frame — a machine for drawing, twisting, and winding yarn.
- spinthariscope — an instrument that detects ionizing radiation by picking up sparks of light from alpha particles.
- spiny anteater — echidna.
- spiral binding — a binding, as for a notebook or booklet, in which the pages are fastened together by a spiral of wire or plastic that coils through a series of holes punched along one side of each page and the front and back covers.
- spirit compass — a wet compass filled with a mixture of alcohol and water.
- spirit rapping — a form of communication between living persons and the spirits of deceased persons by tapping out messages on a table, board, or the like.