18-letter words containing w, a, f
- operating software — software used in the operation of a computer system, typically by performing such tasks as memory allocation, job scheduling, and input/output control
- pave the way (for) — to prepare the way (for); facilitate the introduction (of)
- peter and the wolf — a composition by Sergei Prokofiev written in 1936. It is a children's story with both music and text, spoken by a narrator accompanied by the orchestra
- presumption of law — a presumption based upon a policy of law or a general rule and not upon the facts or evidence in an individual case.
- self-tapping screw — a screw designed to tap its corresponding female thread as it is driven.
- software backplane — (programming, tool) A CASE framework from Atherton.
- sweptwing aircraft — an aircraft which has wings that are swept (usually) backwards
- take a dim view of — not bright; obscure from lack of light or emitted light: a dim room; a dim flashlight.
- take the wraps off — to reveal
- tale of two cities — a historical novel (1859) by Dickens.
- telford and wrekin — a unitary authority in W Central England, in Shropshire. Pop: 160 300 (2003 est). Area: 289 sq km (112 sq miles)
- the bird has flown — the person in question has fled or escaped
- the worse for wear — If you say that someone is the worse for wear, you mean that they are tired, ill, or in a bad state because they have been very active, been through a difficult experience, or been drinking alcohol.
- to find fault with — If you find fault with something or someone, you look for mistakes and complain about them.
- to plough a furrow — If you say that someone ploughs a particular furrow or ploughs their own furrow, you mean that their activities or interests are different or isolated from those of other people.
- treaty of rijswijk — a treaty signed at Rijswijk in the Netherlands in 1697, ending the War of the Grand Alliance
- treaty of waitangi — a treaty signed in 1840 by Māori chiefs and a representative of the British Government, providing the basis for the British annexation of New Zealand
- two-tier financing — a form of lending in which the debt is divided into two separate parts, as in a first and second mortgage held by an individual on a single property
- ultralow frequency — an electromagnetic wave with a frequency between 300 and 3000 hertz. Abbreviation: ULF, ulf.
- vicar of wakefield — a novel (1766) by Goldsmith.
- warrant of fitness — a six-monthly certificate required for motor vehicles certifying mechanical soundness
- water of hydration — the portion of a hydrate that is represented as, or can be expelled as, water: now usually regarded as being in true molecular combination with the other atoms of the compound, and not existing in the compound as water.
- wave of the future — a trend or development that may influence or become a significant part of the future: Computerization is the wave of the future.
- weak nuclear force — weak interaction
- weather forecaster — meteorologist
- what has become of — If you wonder what has become of someone or something, you wonder where they are and what has happened to them.
- white-faced hornet — any large, stinging paper wasp of the family Vespidae, as Vespa crabro (giant hornet) introduced into the U.S. from Europe, or Vespula maculata (bald-faced hornet or white-faced hornet) of North America.
- whitewater rafting — the sport of rafting down fast-flowing rivers, esp over rapids
- wild passionflower — the maypop, Passiflora incarnata.
- wildlife programme — (esp on television) a documentary whose subject is wild animals in their natural habitat or undomesticated fauna and flora generally
- wildlife sanctuary — an area where wild animals and plants are protected
- wingback formation — single wingback formation.
- witch hazel family — the plant family Hamamelidaceae, characterized by trees and shrubs having alternate, simple leaves, flowers in clusters or heads, and fruit in the form of a double-beaked woody capsule, and including the sweet gum, witch alder, and witch hazel.
- woman of the house — lady of the house.
- woman of the world — a woman experienced and sophisticated in the ways and manners of the world, especially the world of society.
- work one's ass off — work extremely hard
- writ of assistance — a writ issued by a superior colonial court authorizing officers of the British crown to summon aid and enter and search any premises.
- writ of attachment — a document by which a court orders the seizing of property in order to ensure satisfaction of a judgement
- writ of certiorari — certiorari.
- wrongful dismissal — the act of making someone redundant for reasons which are illegal or unjust