20-letter words containing s, a, y, o

software methodology — (programming) The study of how to navigate through each phase of the software process model (determining data, control, or uses hierarchies, partitioning functions, and allocating requirements) and how to represent phase products (structure charts, stimulus-response threads, and state transition diagrams).
solitary confinement — the confinement of a prisoner in a cell or other place in which he or she is completely isolated from others.
south orkney islands — an uninhabited group of islands in the S Atlantic, southeast of Cape Horn: formerly a dependency of the Falkland Islands; part of the British Antarctic Territory since 1962 (claims are suspended under the Antarctic Treaty). Area: 621 sq km (240 sq miles)
spanish oyster plant — a composite plant, Scolymus hispanicus, of southern Europe, having spiny, thistlelike leaf margins, small yellow flowers, and an edible root.
spectroscopic binary — a binary star having components that are not sufficiently separated to be resolved by a telescope, known to be a binary only bythe variations in wavelength of emitted light that are detected by a spectroscope.
spontaneous recovery — the reappearance of a response after its extinction has been followed by a period of rest
squatter sovereignty — (used contemptuously by its opponents) popular sovereignty (def 2).
state highway patrol — a state's road traffic police
subscription library — a commercial lending library
summary jurisdiction — the right a court has to adjudicate immediately upon some matter arising during its proceedings
sunday-go-to-meeting — most presentable; best: Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes.
surveillance society — a society where surveillance technology is widely used to monitor people's everyday activities
synchronized skating — the art or sport of teams of up to twenty skaters holding onto each other and moving in patterns in time to music
synchronous rotation — rotation of a satellite in which the period of rotation is equal to the period of orbit around its primary, leaving the same face always pointing toward the primary: The moon is in synchronous rotation about the earth.
system international — Système International d'Unités
systemic circulation — the circulatory system in general.
take pity on someone — If you take pity on someone, you feel sorry for them and help them.
tetrahydrogestrinone — a synthetic anabolic steroid. Formula: C21H28O2
the way of the cross — a series of images in a church or along a road to a church etc depicting the last hours of Christ
the whole nine yards — everything that is required; the whole thing
theosophical society — a society founded by Madame Blavatsky and others, in New York in 1875, advocating a worldwide eclectic religion based largely on Brahmanic and Buddhistic teachings.
thermodynamic system — a system whose states of equilibrium can be specified by a few macroscopic properties.
third-party software — software created by programmers or publishers independent of the manufacturer of the hardware for which it is intended.
three-dimensionality — having, or seeming to have, the dimension of depth as well as width and height.
to do your damnedest — If you say that you will do your damnedest to achieve something, you mean that you will try as hard as you can to do it, even though you think that it will take a lot of effort.
to get your bearings — to find out where one is or to find out what one should do next
to spread your wings — If you spread your wings, you do something new and rather difficult or move to a new place, because you feel more confident in your abilities than you used to and you want to gain wider experience.
to stand your ground — If you stand your ground or hold your ground, you continue to support a particular argument or to have a particular opinion when other people are opposing you or trying to make you change your mind.
to take years off sb — if you say that something such as an experience or a way of dressing has taken years off someone, you mean that it has made them look or feel much younger
to waste your breath — If someone says you are wasting your breath, they mean that the person you are talking to will not take any notice and so there is no point saying anything to them.
to work your way swh — If you work your way somewhere, you move or progress there slowly, and with a lot of effort or work.
transmission density — a measure of the extent to which a substance transmits light or other electromagnetic radiation, equal to the logarithm to base ten of the reciprocal of the transmittance
treaty of versailles — the treaty of 1919 imposed upon Germany by the Allies (except for the US and the Soviet Union): the most important of the five peace treaties that concluded World War I
turn an honest penny — to earn money fairly and honestly
university education — a course of study undertaken and completed at a university
university of durham — (body, education) A busy research and teaching community in the historic cathedral city of Durham, UK (population 61000). Its work covers key branches of science and technology and traditional areas of scholarship. Durham graduates are in great demand among employers and the University helps to attract investment into the region. It provides training, short courses, and expertise for industry. Through its cultural events, conferences, tourist business and as a major employer, the University contributes in a wide social and economic sense to the community. Founded in 1832, the University developed in Durham and Newcastle until 1963 when the independent University of Newcastle upon Tyne came into being. Durham is a collegiate body, with 14 Colleges or Societies which are a social and domestic focus for students. In 1992, the Universities of Durham and Teesside launched University College, Stockton-on-Tees, which has 190 students in the first year.
university of hawaii — (body, education) A University spread over 10 campuses on 4 islands throughout the state. See also Aloha, Aloha Net.
upper yosemite falls — a section of Yosemite Falls in central California, in the Yosemite National Park that is 436 m (1430 ft) high
video graphics array — (hardware) (VGA) A display standard for IBM PCs, with 640 x 480 pixels in 16 colours and a 4:3 aspect ratio. There is also a text mode with 720 x 400 pixels. IBM technical references define the *product name* of their original VGA display board as "Video Graphics Array", in contrast to the preceding boards, the "Color Graphics Adapter" (CGA) and "Enhanced Graphics Adapter" (EGA). See also Super Video Graphics Adapter.
voluntary euthanasia — the act of killing someone painlessly, esp to relieve suffering from an incurable illness, with their consent
watering of the eyes — the formation of tears in the eyes
webster's dictionary — Informal. a dictionary of the English language, especially American English, such as Dictionary.com.
whyte classification — a system for classifying steam locomotives according to the total number of wheels on the front trucks, drivers, and rear trucks, in that order. For example, a Pacific locomotive is designated as 4-6-2.
winter olympic games — an international contest of winter sports, esp skiing, held every four years
woman of easy virtue — a sexually available woman, esp a prostitute
yellow-breasted chat — an American warbler, Icteria virens, having a yellow throat and breast and greenish-brown upper parts and noted for imitating the songs of other species.
your marching orders — If you give someone their marching orders, you tell them that you no longer want or need them, for example as your employee or as your lover.
yu-shiang whole fish — /yoo-shyang hohl fish/ An obsolete name for the Greek character gamma (extended SAIL ASCII code 9, Unicode glyph 0x0263) which with a loop in its tail looks like a little fish swimming down the page. The term is actually the name of a Chinese dish in which a fish is cooked whole (not parsed) and covered with Yu-Shiang (or Yu-Hsiang) sauce. Used primarily by people on the MIT LISP Machine, which could display this character on the screen. Tends to elicit incredulity from people who hear about it second-hand.

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