12-letter words containing si
- basic salary — base pay.
- basic weight — basis weight.
- basidiocarps — Plural form of basidiocarp.
- basidiospore — one of the spores, usually four in number, produced in a basidium
- basification — the process of making something alkaline
- basilic vein — a large vein situated on the inner side of the arm
- basing point — a geographical location from which freight charges are computed by the seller regardless of the point from which the goods are shipped.
- basis weight — the weight in pounds of a ream of paper of a basic size, usually 25 × 38 inches (63 × 96 cm) for book stock, 17 × 22 inches (43 × 55 cm) for writing stock, and 20 × 26 inches (50 × 66 cm) for cover stock.
- bedside lamp — a lamp beside a bed
- bell housing — A bell housing is a bell-shaped extension of an engine crankcase, that contains the flywheel and the clutch.
- beta version — beta testing
- bevel siding — siding composed of tapered pieces, as clapboards, laid with the thicker lower edge of any piece overlapping the thinner upper edge of the piece below it.
- big business — Big business is business which involves very large companies and very large sums of money.
- bilharziasis — schistosomiasis
- biocorrosion — corrosion caused by or enhanced by bacteria or other microorganisms; biologically induced corrosion.
- biodiversity — Biodiversity is the existence of a wide variety of plant and animal species living in their natural environment.
- biosynthesis — the formation of complex compounds from simple substances by living organisms
- blind casing — (in a box window frame) a rough framework to which the trim is secured.
- block signal — a fixed railroad signal governing the movements of trains entering and using a given section of track.
- blood sister — a sister by birth
- blue-singlet — working-class
- bone density — the degree of compactness of bone
- book signing — a prearranged and publicized event at which an author signs copies of their latest book, often with individual dedications to purchasers
- bookcrossing — the practice of deliberately leaving books in places where they will be found and read by other people
- borosilicate — a salt of boric and silicic acids
- bossier city — city in NW La., on the Red River opposite Shreveport: pop. 56,000
- bourgeoisify — to convert to a bourgeois attitude or appearance
- bradykinesia — abnormal slowness of physical movement, esp as an effect of Parkinson's disease
- brake assist — a part of a vehicle's braking system that automatically boosts braking pressure in an emergency situation
- bromhidrosis — the secretion of foul-smelling sweat.
- brown-nosing — If you accuse someone of brown-nosing, you are saying in a rather offensive way that they are agreeing with someone important in order to get their support.
- bull session — A bull session is an informal conversation among a small group of people.
- burnt sienna — a reddish-brown dye or pigment obtained by roasting raw sienna in a furnace
- bush singlet — a black woollen singlet often worn by farm labourers
- business end — The business end of a tool or weapon is the end of it which does the work or causes damage rather than the end that you hold.
- businesslike — If you describe someone as businesslike, you mean that they deal with things in an efficient way without wasting time.
- byelorussian — Byelorussian means belonging or relating to Byelorussia or to its people or culture.
- caenogenesis — the development of structures and organs in an embryo or larva that are adaptations to its way of life and are not retained in the adult form
- caliginosity — darkness
- call in sick — afflicted with ill health or disease; ailing.
- camping site — A camping site is the same as a campsite.
- capitalising — Present participle of capitalise.
- caravan site — A caravan site is an area of land where people can stay in a caravan on holiday, or where people live in caravans.
- cardinal sin — If you describe an action as a cardinal sin, you are indicating that some people strongly disapprove of it.
- casing knife — a knife for trimming wallpaper after it has been attached.
- cassiopeia a — a very strong radio and X-ray source in the constellation Cassiopeia, identified as the remnant of a supernova thought to have occurred in the late 17th century
- cataphoresis — electrophoresis
- cataphysical — perverse; contrary to nature
- categorising — to arrange in categories or classes; classify.
- cater-cousin — a close friend