15-letter words containing s, a, n, c, r, l
- simple fraction — a ratio of two integers.
- sinclair, clive — Clive Sinclair
- small cranberry — See under cranberry (def 1).
- snafu principle — /sna'foo prin'si-pl/ [WWII Army acronym for "Situation Normal: All Fucked Up"] "True communication is possible only between equals, because inferiors are more consistently rewarded for telling their superiors pleasant lies than for telling the truth." - a central tenet of Discordianism, often invoked by hackers to explain why authoritarian hierarchies screw up so reliably and systematically. The effect of the SNAFU principle is a progressive disconnection of decision-makers from reality. This lightly adapted version of a fable dating back to the early 1960s illustrates the phenomenon perfectly: In the beginning was the plan, and then the specification; And the plan was without form, and the specification was void. And darkness was on the faces of the implementors thereof; And they spake unto their leader, saying: "It is a crock of shit, and smells as of a sewer." And the leader took pity on them, and spoke to the project leader: "It is a crock of excrement, and none may abide the odor thereof." And the project leader spake unto his section head, saying: "It is a container of excrement, and it is very strong, such that none may abide it." The section head then hurried to his department manager, and informed him thus: "It is a vessel of fertilizer, and none may abide its strength." The department manager carried these words to his general manager, and spoke unto him saying: "It containeth that which aideth the growth of plants, and it is very strong." And so it was that the general manager rejoiced and delivered the good news unto the Vice President. "It promoteth growth, and it is very powerful." The Vice President rushed to the President's side, and joyously exclaimed: "This powerful new software product will promote the growth of the company!" And the President looked upon the product, and saw that it was very good. After the subsequent disaster, the suits protect themselves by saying "I was misinformed!", and the implementors are demoted or fired.
- social contract — the voluntary agreement among individuals by which, according to any of various theories, as of Hobbes, Locke, or Rousseau, organized society is brought into being and invested with the right to secure mutual protection and welfare or to regulate the relations among its members.
- social drinking — the practice of drinking alcohol occasionally and usually only in social situations
- social-drinking — a person who drinks alcoholic beverages usually in the company of others and is in control of his or her drinking.
- source language — the language in which a text appears that is to be translated into another language. Compare target language (def 1).
- special partner — a partner whose liability for the firm's debts is limited to the amount that partner has invested in the firm.
- speckle pattern — the visual appearance of a star as viewed through a large telescope, with irregularities caused by the distorting effect of local turbulence in the earth's atmosphere.
- spherical angle — an angle formed by arcs of great circles of a sphere.
- splanchnopleure — the double layer formed by the association of the lower layer of the lateral plate of mesoderm with the underlying entoderm, which develops into the embryonic viscera.
- spring-cleaning — a complete cleaning of a place, as a home, done traditionally in the spring of the year.
- sprinkler dance — a celebratory dance in which participants extend one arm and shake it to imitate the action of a rotating water sprinkler
- standard candle — a unit of luminous intensity; the candela: not in scientific usage because of possible confusion with a former unit (international candle)
- standard clause — a clause which is inserted as standard into certain types of contracts or agreements
- starting blocks — the rigid blocks adjustable at an angle and mounted on a track against which a runner's shoes are placed to aid in starting
- structural gene — cistron.
- structural iron — iron shaped for use in construction.
- superficialness — being at, on, or near the surface: a superficial wound.
- surgical needle — a needle for suturing.
- synergistically — pertaining to, characteristic of, or resembling synergy: a synergistic effect.
- tennis bracelet — a bracelet consisting of a row of individually set, uniformly sized diamonds or other gemstones.
- tentaculiferous — having tentacles
- the black ferns — the women's international Rugby Union football team of New Zealand
- title insurance — insurance protecting the owner or mortgagee of real estate from lawsuits or claims arising from a defective title.
- torsion balance — an instrument for measuring small forces, as electric attraction or repulsion, by determining the amount of torsion or twisting they cause in a slender wire or filament.
- training school — a school that provides training in some art, profession, or vocation.
- transactionally — the act of transacting or the fact of being transacted.
- transhistorical — occurring throughout all human history
- travel sickness — nausea caused by motion
- turn the scales — to determine or decide something uncertain
- ultra-masculine — pertaining to or characteristic of a man or men: masculine attire.
- ultrasound scan — sonograph examination
- un-considerable — rather large or great in size, distance, extent, etc.: It cost a considerable amount. We took a considerable length of time to decide.
- unascertainable — to find out definitely; learn with certainty or assurance; determine: to ascertain the facts.
- unchristianlike — not like a Christian; not in accordance with Christian teaching and values
- uncompromisable — that cannot or should not be compromised
- unconstrainable — unable to be confined
- unconstrainedly — in an unconfined manner
- uncontrollables — incapable of being controlled or restrained: uncontrollable anger.
- uncontroversial — of, relating to, or characteristic of controversy, or prolonged public dispute, debate, or contention; polemical: a controversial book.
- universal chuck — a chuck, as on a lathe headstock, having three stepped jaws moving simultaneously for precise centering of a workpiece of any of a wide range of sizes.
- universal class — (in the theory of classes) the class that includes all other classes and is composed of all individuals composing these classes.
- unmaterialistic — excessively concerned with physical comforts or the acquisition of wealth and material possessions, rather than with spiritual, intellectual, or cultural values.
- unrealistically — interested in, concerned with, or based on what is real or practical: a realistic estimate of costs; a realistic planner.
- unsarcastically — of, relating to, or characterized by sarcasm: a sarcastic reply.
- upperclasswoman — An upperclasswoman is a junior or senior student in a high school, college, or university.
- urban sociology — the sociological study of cities and their role in the development of society.
- vascular bundle — a longitudinal arrangement of strands of xylem and phloem, and sometimes cambium, that forms the fluid-conducting channels of vascular tissue in the rhizomes, stems, and leaf veins of vascular plants, the arrangement varying with the type of plant.