16-letter words containing r, e, s, u, b
- embourgeoisement — (chiefly UK) The taking-up of middle-class attitudes or values; bourgeoisification; the process of becoming affluent.
- equidistribution — An equal distribution.
- filterable virus — a virus particle small enough to pass through a filter of diatomaceous earth or porcelain, which will not pass bacteria: chiefly historical or an informal indicator of size, as synthetic membrane filters now permit passage of the smallest virus.
- first-time buyer — someone who is buying his or her first house
- flashbulb memory — the clear recollections that a person may have of the circumstances associated with a dramatic event
- forbush decrease — the sudden decrease in the intensity of cosmic rays after an increase in solar activity.
- four-masted brig — jackass bark (def 2).
- globular cluster — a comparatively older, spherically symmetrical, compact group of up to a million old stars, held together by mutual gravitation, that are located in the galactic halo and move in giant and highly eccentric orbits around the galactic center.
- ground substance — Also called matrix. the homogeneous substance in which the fibers and cells of connective tissue are embedded.
- growth substance — any substance, produced naturally by a plant or manufactured commercially, that, in very low concentrations, affects plant growth; a plant hormone
- hawksbill turtle — a sea turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, the shell of which is the source of tortoise shell: an endangered species.
- heterometabolous — undergoing development in which the young are born adultlike in form, often maturing without a pupal stage.
- horsehead nebula — a dark nebula in the constellation Orion, composed of opaque cosmic dust and resembling the head of a horse.
- hypersusceptible — hypersensitive (def 2).
- immeasurableness — The state or condition of being immeasurable.
- incommensurables — Plural form of incommensurable.
- insufferableness — The state of being insufferable.
- insurance broker — person who sells insurance policies
- invulnerableness — The quality of being invulnerable.
- isobutyl nitrite — butyl nitrite.
- jude the obscure — a novel (1895) by Thomas Hardy.
- julius rosenberg — Alfred, 1893–1946, German Nazi ideologist and political leader, born in Estonia.
- khakass republic — a constituent republic of S central Russia, formerly in Krasnoyarsk Territory: formed in 1930. Capital: Abakan. Pop: 546 100 (2002). Area: 61 900 sq km (23 855 sq miles)
- kirribilli house — the official Sydney residence of the Australian Prime Minister
- krebs urea cycle — urea cycle.
- labour relations — Labour relations refers to the relationship between employers and employees in industry, and the political decisions and laws that affect it.
- labour-intensive — Labour-intensive industries or methods of making things involve a lot of workers. Compare capital-intensive.
- liberal unionist — a Liberal who opposed Gladstone's policy of Irish Home Rule in 1886 and after
- library pictures — a caption used to alert viewers that footage being broadcast is from an earlier time and is not happening now
- like gangbusters — a law-enforcement officer who specializes in breaking up organized crime, often by forceful or sensational means.
- louise bourgeois — Léon Victor Auguste [ley-awn veek-tawr oh-gyst] /leɪˈɔ̃ vikˈtɔr oʊˈgyst/ (Show IPA), 1851–1925, French statesman: Nobel Peace Prize 1920.
- lumberjack shirt — a thick checked shirt, as worn by lumberjacks
- mesembryanthemum — any of various chiefly Old World plants of the genus Mesembryanthemum, having thick, fleshy leaves and often showy flowers.
- mossbauer effect — the phenomenon in which an atom in a crystal undergoes no recoil when emitting a gamma ray, giving all the emitted energy to the gamma ray, resulting in a sharply defined wavelength.
- nash equilibrium — (in game theory) a stable state of a system involving the interaction of two or more players in which no player can gain by a unilateral change of strategy if the strategies of the other players remain unchanged
- neuroborreliosis — A disorder of the central nervous system caused by a spirochete of the genus Borrelia.
- nitrous bacteria — bacteria that convert ammonia to nitrites in the soil
- nondurable goods — goods that remain usable for, or must be replaced within, a relatively short period of time, as food, apparel, or fabrics
- obsequent stream — a stream flowing in a direction opposite to that of the dip of the local strata.
- obstreperousness — resisting control or restraint in a difficult manner; unruly.
- obtuse bisectrix — See under bisectrix (def 1).
- october surprise — a major event, occurring shortly before a presidential election, which influences the result
- oversubscription — to subscribe for more of than is available, expected, or required: The charity drive was oversubscribed by several thousand dollars.
- paint-by-numbers — formulaic; showing no original thought or creativity
- paratuberculosis — Johne's disease.
- plumber's helper — plunger (def 3).
- pre-subscription — a sum of money given or pledged as a contribution, payment, investment, etc.
- prometheus bound — a tragedy (c457 b.c.) by Aeschylus.
- public ownership — ownership by the state; nationalization
- public relations — (used with a plural verb) the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc.