12-letter words containing u, b, o, a
- backgrounder — A backgrounder is a short article in a newspaper or magazine that provides background information about a particular subject.
- backsolution — The process or result of backsolving.
- balsamaceous — any of various fragrant exudations from certain trees, especially trees of the genus Commiphora, as balm-of-Gilead. Compare balm (def 1).
- bank account — A bank account is an arrangement with a bank which allows you to keep your money in the bank and to take some out when you need it.
- banner cloud — a plume-shaped cloud extending downwind from an isolated mountain peak. Also called cloud banner. Compare cap cloud (def 1).
- banquet room — A banquet room is a room in a hotel where large formal meals for many people can be held.
- barbados nut — an ornamental, tropical American tree, Jatropha curcas, of the spurge family, having ivylike leaves, small, yellow or greenish-yellow flowers, and olive-shaped fruit yielding a purgative, poisonous oil.
- barcalounger — a type of reclinable armchair with an extendable footrest
- bardolatrous — relating to or characterized by bardolatry
- barge couple — either of a pair of outside rafters along the gable end of a roof
- barge course — the overhang of the gable end of a roof
- barium oxide — a white or yellowish-white poisonous heavy powder used esp as a dehydrating agent. Formula: BaO
- barquisimeto — a city in NW Venezuela. Pop: 1 009 000 (2005 est)
- barratrously — In a barratrous manner.
- base bullion — smelted lead containing impurities, as gold, silver, or zinc, that are later removed.
- bashi-bazouk — a member of the notoriously brutal 19th-cent. Turkish irregulars
- bashibazouks — Plural form of bashibazouk.
- basset hound — A basset hound is a dog with short strong legs, a long body, and long ears. It is kept as a pet or used for hunting.
- bastel house — (on the Anglo-Scottish border) a partly fortified house, usually with a vaulted ground floor.
- bathophilous — (of an organism) living in very deep water
- battle group — a group of warships usually consisting of at least one aircraft carrier, other surface ships, submarines, landing craft, etc
- battleground — A battleground is the same as a battlefield.
- bay of fundy — an inlet of the Atlantic in SE Canada, between S New Brunswick and W Nova Scotia: remarkable for its swift tides of up to 21 m (70 ft)
- bayonet bulb — an electric light bulb which is inserted into the socket against spring pressure and turned so that pins on its side engage in slots in the socket
- bean counter — You can describe people such as accountants and business managers as bean counters if you disapprove of them because you think they are only interested in money.
- bean sprouts — the sprouts of newly germinated mung beans, eaten as a vegetable, esp in Chinese dishes
- beardtongues — Plural form of beardtongue.
- beat up (on) — to give a beating to; thrash
- beaufort sea — part of the Arctic Ocean off the N coast of North America
- beaumontague — a cement-like substance used to fill in and hide cracks and holes in woodwork and metalwork
- beauty salon — A beauty salon is the same as a beauty parlour.
- beer parlour — a room in a tavern, hotel, etc in which beer is served
- behaviourism — Behaviourism is the belief held by some psychologists that the only valid method of studying the psychology of people or animals is to observe how they behave.
- belleau wood — a forest in N France: site of a battle (1918) in which the US Marines halted a German advance on Paris
- benzal group — the bivalent group C 7 H 6 –, derived from benzaldehyde.
- bifunctional — having two functions
- binocularity — binocular characteristics
- bioacoustics — the study of animals' use of sound
- biohazardous — a pathogen, especially one used in or produced by biological research.
- biomolecular — relating to a biomolecule
- bioturbation — the stirring of sediment by organisms
- blabbermouth — a person who talks too much or indiscreetly
- black grouse — a large N European grouse, Lyrurus tetrix, the male of which has a bluish-black plumage and lyre-shaped tail
- black liquor — (in making wood pulp for paper) the liquor that remains after digestion.
- black locust — Also called false acacia, yellow locust. a North American tree, Robinia pseudoacacia, of the legume family, having pinnate leaves and clusters of fragrant white flowers.
- black tongue — canine pellagra.
- blastulation — the process of blastula formation
- boar-hunting — the practice of hunting wild boars
- boarding out — the local-authority practice of placing a client in a foster family or voluntary establishment and paying for it
- boatbuilding — Boatbuilding is the craft or industry of making boats.