18-letter words that end in t
- potential gradient — the rate of change of potential with respect to distance in the direction of greatest change.
- pound the pavement — a paved road, highway, etc.
- power-on self-test — (hardware, testing) (POST) A sequence of diagnostic tests that are run automatically by a device when the power is turned on. In a personal computer a typical POST sequence does the following: - checks that the system board is working - checks that the memory is working - compares the current system configuration with that recorded by the PC's configuration program to see if anything has been added or removed or broken - starts the video operation - checks that the diskette drive, hard disk drive, CD-ROM drive, and any other drives that may be installed are working. When POST is finished, typically it will beep, and then let your operating system start to boot. If POST finds an error, it may beep more than once (or possibly not at all if it is your PC speaker that is broken) and display a POST error message. These messages are often nothing more than a single ominous number. Some common numbers and their meanings are: 161 Dead battery (get a new battery for the system board) 162 Configuration changed (you added some memory or a new card to the PC) 301 Keyboard error (take the book off the corner of the keyboard) Because a successful POST indicates that the system is restored to known state, turning the power off and on is a standard way to reset a system whose software has hung. Compare 120 reset, Big Red Switch, power cycle.
- principal argument — the radian measure of the argument between −π and π of a complex number. Compare argument (def 8c).
- priority interrupt — (jargon) Any stimulus compelling enough to yank one right out of hack mode. Classically used to describe being dragged away by an SO for immediate sex, but may also refer to more mundane interruptions such as a fire alarm going off in the near vicinity. Also called an NMI (non-maskable interrupt), especially in PC-land.
- project management — leadership of a task or programme
- proportional limit — elastic limit.
- protocol data unit — (PDU) A packet of data passed across a network. The term implies a specific layer of the OSI seven layer model and a specific protocol.
- provably difficult — The set or property of problems for which it can be proven that no polynomial-time algorithm exists, only exponential-time algorithms.
- provincetown print — a print made from a woodblock incised with grooves that serve to separate the colors being used and to leave white lines highlighting the design.
- provision merchant — a person or company in the business of retailing food and other provisions
- psychotechnologist — a specialist in psychotechnology
- rail rapid transit — a system of rail transit within an urban area that has exclusive right of way either below, above, or on the ground and so is capable of relatively high operating speed. Abbreviation: RRT.
- rapid eye movement — rapidly shifting, continuous movements of the eyes beneath closed lids during the stage of sleep characterized by dreaming.
- rare-earth element — any of a group of closely related metallic elements, comprising the lanthanides, scandium, and yttrium, that are chemically similar by virtue of having the same number of valence electrons.
- reactive component — the component in an alternating-current circuit that does not contribute power because it is 90° out of phase with the voltage or current.
- recess appointment — a person appointed to an office by the President of the United States without approval from the Senate because the Senate is in recess
- red-light district — an area or district in a city in which many houses of prostitution are located.
- redundancy payment — a sum of money given by an employer to an employee who has been made redundant: usually calculated on the basis of the employee's rate of pay and length of service
- report an accident — If you report an accident, you inform an insurer or the police or other authorities that an accident has occurred.
- reprocessing plant — a plant where materials are treated in order to make them reusable
- rescind a contract — If an insurer rescinds an insurance contract, it terminates it because facts have been concealed or misrepresented by the proposer.
- research assistant — a graduate who is employed on a temporary or part-time basis to assist the university with academic research
- research scientist — someone who conducts scientific research or investigation, in order to discover new things, etc
- respiratory arrest — cessation of breathing
- resurrection plant — a desert plant, Selaginella lepidophylla, occurring from Texas to South America, having stems that curl inward when dry.
- retirement benefit — a payment made to a retired person
- reverse angle shot — Movies. reverse shot.
- ribbon development — housing or commercial buildings built along a stretch of road.
- rolled-steel joist — a steel beam, esp one with a cross section in the form of a letter H or I
- rooted to the spot — If you are rooted to the spot, you are unable to move because you are very frightened or shocked.
- rule of engagement — a directive issued by a military authority controlling the use and degree of force, especially specifying circumstances and limitations for engaging in combat.
- sampling equipment — Sampling equipment is equipment which is used to remove small amounts of something for analysis and monitoring.
- say/kiss goodnight — If you say goodnight to someone or kiss them goodnight, you say something such as 'Goodnight' to them or kiss them before one of you goes home or goes to sleep.
- schengen agreement — an agreement, signed in 1985 at a meeting of European leaders near Schengen, Luxembourg, but not implemented until 1995, to gradually abolish border controls within Europe; it was supplemented in 1990 by the Schengen Convention; in 1999 the agreement was incorporated into European Union law. Twenty-six countries acceded by 2015; the UK is not a signatory
- second commandment — “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them nor serve them”: second of the Ten Commandments.
- securities analyst — an expert who advises on investment in securities such as stocks, shares and bonds
- security agreement — business: contract
- self-advertisement — a paid announcement, as of goods for sale, in newspapers or magazines, on radio or television, etc.
- self-disparagement — the act of disparaging.
- self-entertainment — the act of entertaining; agreeable occupation for the mind; diversion; amusement: Solving the daily crossword puzzle is an entertainment for many.
- sell oneself short — If you sell someone short, you do not point out their good qualities as much as you should or do as much for them as you should.
- septic sore throat — an acute, toxic, streptococcus infection of the throat producing fever, tonsillitis, and other serious effects.
- service department — a repair shop
- silvery spleenwort — a fern, Diplazium pycnocarpon, of eastern North America, having fronds from 20 to 30 inches (50.8 to 76.2 cm) long on yellowish-green stalks.
- sir george gilbert — Barbara Ann, 1928–2012, Canadian figure skater.
- small claims court — a special court established to handle small claims or debts, usually without the services of lawyers.
- small-claims court — a special court established to handle small claims or debts, usually without the services of lawyers.
- social environment — the environment developed by humans as contrasted with the natural environment; society as a whole, especially in its relation to the individual.
- soldier settlement — the allocation of Crown land for farming to ex-servicemen