11-letter words starting with k
- keratoconus — a degenerative condition characterized by conical protrusion of the cornea and irregular astigmatism.
- keratoderma — a disease of the horny layer of the skin, especially of the soles or palms.
- keratolysis — the loosening or shedding of the horny layer of the epidermis.
- keratolytic — the loosening or shedding of the horny layer of the epidermis.
- keratometer — an instrument for measuring the curvature of the cornea.
- keratophyre — a fine-grained soda trachyte
- keratoscope — an instrument, as Placido's disk, for determining the symmetry of the curvature of the cornea.
- keratoscopy — an instrument, as Placido's disk, for determining the symmetry of the curvature of the cornea.
- kerb appeal — the attractiveness to potential buyers of a house when viewed from the road
- kerb broker — a stockbroker who works on the streets, especially after the stock exchange is closed for the day
- kerb market — curb (def 5).
- kerb weight — the weight of a motor car without occupants, luggage, etc
- kernel smut — a disease of sorghum and other grasses in which the grains are replaced by the black spores of a smut fungus, especially of the genera Tilletia and Ustilago.
- kernicterus — (medicine) Damage to the brain centres of infants caused by increased levels of unconjugated-indirect bilirubin which is free (not bound to albumin).
- kerr effect — the double refraction of light in certain substances, produced by an electric field.
- ketogenesis — the production of ketone bodies in the body, as in diabetes mellitus or low-carbohydrate weight-loss diets.
- ketone body — any of three compounds, acetoacetic acid, beta-hydroxybutyric acid, or acetone, that are intermediate in the metabolism of fatty acids and that are found in abnormal quantities in the blood and urine during certain pathological conditions, as diabetes mellitus.
- ketopentose — (carbohydrate) A pentose that is also a ketose.
- ketosteroid — any of a group of steroids containing a ketone group.
- ketotetrose — (carbohydrate) Any ketose having four carbon atoms.
- kettle base — a bombé base to a piece of furniture.
- kettle hole — a deep, kettle-shaped depression in glacial drift.
- kettledrums — a drum consisting of a hollow hemisphere of brass, copper, or fiberglass over which is stretched a skin, the tension of which can be modified by hand screws or foot pedals to vary the pitch.
- kew gardens — the Royal Botanic Gardens in the Greater London borough of Richmond-upon-Thames, on the River Thames; established in 1759 and given to the nation in 1841
- kewpie doll — a doll having rosy cheeks and a curl of hair on its head
- key (in) on — to focus one's attention, effort, etc. on
- key station — a radio or television station that originates most of a network's broadcasting.
- keyboarders — Plural form of keyboarder.
- keyboarding — the row or set of keys on a piano, organ, or the like.
- keyboardist — the row or set of keys on a piano, organ, or the like.
- keyed bugle — a bugle that has keys to make it possible to play a chromatic scale
- keyhole saw — a compass saw for cutting keyholes, etc.
- khalkidhiki — Greek name of Chalcidice.
- khan tengri — a mountain in central Asia, on the border between Kyrgyzstan and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of W China. Height: 6995 m (22 951 ft)
- khmelnitsky — a city in W Ukraine, SW of Kiev.
- khmer rouge — a Cambodian guerrilla and rebel force and political opposition movement, originally Communist and Communist-backed.
- khyber pass — the chief mountain pass between Pakistan and Afghanistan, W of Peshawar. 33 miles (53 km) long; 6825 feet (2080 meters) high.
- kibbutzniks — Plural form of kibbutznik.
- kick around — to strike with the foot or feet: to kick the ball; to kick someone in the shins.
- kick boxing — a form of boxing in which the gloved combatants may also kick with bare feet.
- kickstarted — Simple past tense and past participle of kickstart.
- kid brother — younger male sibling
- kiddie porn — child pornography.
- kidnappings — Plural form of kidnapping.
- kidney bean — a common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris, cultivated in many varieties for its edible seeds and pods.
- kidney dish — medical: curved basin
- kidney worm — any of various large nematodes parasitic in the kidneys, especially Stephanurus dentatus, found in pigs.
- kids' stuff — something considered fit only for children
- kierkegaard — Sören Aabye [sœ-ruh n aw-by] /ˈsœ rən ˈɔ bü/ (Show IPA), 1813–55, Danish philosopher and theologian.
- kilimanjaro — a volcanic mountain in N Tanzania: highest peak in Africa. 19,321 feet (5889 meters).