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15-letter words containing u, r, a, s

  • semitranslucent — imperfectly or almost translucent.
  • serous membrane — any of various thin membranes, as the peritoneum, that line certain cavities of the body and exude a serous fluid.
  • serum hepatitis — hepatitis B.
  • sesquicarbonate — a salt intermediate in composition between a carbonate and a bicarbonate or consisting of the two combined.
  • sesquicentenary — a hundred and fiftieth anniversary
  • seven-card stud — a variety of poker in which each player is dealt one card face down in each of the first two rounds, one card face up in each of the next four rounds, and one card face down in the last round, each of the last five rounds being followed by a betting interval. Compare stud poker (def 1).
  • shoulder charge — an instance of a player charging into another so that there is contact between their shoulders (permissible in some circumstances)
  • shoulder season — a travel season between peak and off-peak seasons, especially spring and fall, when fares tend to be relatively low.
  • shoulder weapon — a firearm that is fired while being held in the hands with the butt of the weapon braced against the shoulder.
  • shutter release — a button or similar device used to actuate a camera shutter.
  • siberian squill — a bulbous, Eurasian plant, Scilla siberica, of the lily family, having nodding, deep blue flowers.
  • silver quandong — an Australian tree, Elaeocarpus grandis: family Elaeocarpaceae
  • silviculturally — with reference to silviculture
  • simian virus 40 — SV 40.
  • simple fracture — a fracture in which the bone does not pierce the skin.
  • sinkiang uighur — an autonomous region in NW China, bordering Tibet, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Tadzhikistan, Pakistan, and India: formerly a province. 635,830 sq. mi. (1,646,800 sq. km). Capital: Ürümqi.
  • sir arthur john — Sir (Arthur) John, 1904–2000, English actor and director.
  • sled cultivator — go-devil (def 5).
  • slumpflationary — of or relating to slumpflation
  • 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.
  • snapping turtle — either of two large, edible, freshwater turtles of the family Chelydridae, of North and Central America, having a large head and powerful hooked jaws, especially the common snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina.
  • social security — (usually initial capital letters) a program of old-age, unemployment, health, disability, and survivors insurance maintained by the U.S. federal government through compulsory payments by specific employer and employee groups.
  • socioculturally — from a sociocultural point of view
  • sodium arsenite — a white or grayish-white, water-soluble, poisonous powder, NaAsO 2 , used chiefly in arsenical soaps for hides, as an insecticide, and as a weed-killer.
  • sodium chlorate — a colorless, water-soluble solid, NaClO 3 , cool and salty to the taste, used chiefly in the manufacture of explosives and matches, as a textile mordant, and as an oxidizing and bleaching agent.
  • sodium citrates — the sodium salts of citric acid (monosodium citrate, disodium citrate, trisodium citrate)
  • sodium stearate — Sodium stearate is a salt of stearic acid used as a surfactant (= a substance that reduces the surface tension of a liquid and allows it to foam) in order to aid the solubility of hydrophobic substances in oral medicines.
  • source language — the language in which a text appears that is to be translated into another language. Compare target language (def 1).
  • source material — original, authoritative, or basic materials utilized in research, as diaries or manuscripts.
  • south australia — a state in S Australia. 380,070 sq. mi. (984,380 sq. km). Capital: Adelaide.
  • south glamorgan — a county in SE Wales. 161 sq. mi. (416 sq. km).
  • southeastwardly — toward the southeast
  • southern paiute — See under Paiute (def 2).
  • southwestwardly — toward the southwest
  • spawning ground — a place where fish deposit their eggs for fertilization
  • special feature — an article differing from the normal format and focusing on a particular topic
  • spinach-rhubarb — an Ethiopian plant, Rumex abyssinicus, of the buckwheat family, having leaves that are sometimes used as spinach and leafstalks sometimes used as rhubarb.
  • 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.
  • squadron leader — air-force officer
  • staggered hours — a system of working in which the employees of an organization do not all arrive and leave at the same time, but have large periods of overlap
  • stamping ground — a habitual or favorite haunt.
  • standard clause — a clause which is inserted as standard into certain types of contracts or agreements
  • star of courage — a Canadian award for bravery
  • static pressure — the pressure exerted by a fluid that is not moving or flowing.
  • statutory crime — a wrong punishable under a statute, rather than at common law.
  • statutory order — a statute that applies further legislation to an existing act
  • stay the course — to spend some time in a place, in a situation, with a person or group, etc.: He stayed in the army for ten years.
  • steak au poivre — pepper steak (def 2).
  • stirrup leather — the strap that holds the stirrup of a saddle.
  • storm insurance — insurance cover against damage caused by windstorms
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