12-letter words containing a, c, o, u
- autoinjector — A medical device designed to deliver a single dose of a particular, typically life-saving, drug.
- automaticity — the condition of being automatic, or the degree of this
- autoptically — in an autoptical manner
- autoreactive — (immunology, medicine) Acting against the organism by which it was produced.
- autorhythmic — That generates its own rhythm.
- autorickshaw — (in India) a light three-wheeled vehicle driven by a motorcycle engine
- autotheistic — Self-worshiping; prideful in the extreme.
- avariciously — characterized by avarice; greedy; covetous.
- averruncator — a long pair of shears used for pruning the higher branches of trees
- baby-bouncer — a seat on springs suspended from a door frame, etc, in which a baby may be placed for exercise
- back country — The back country is an area that is a long way from any city and has very few people living in it.
- backcourtman — any of the players stationed in the backcourt; a guard
- backgrounded — Simple past tense and past participle of background.
- backgrounder — A backgrounder is a short article in a newspaper or magazine that provides background information about a particular subject.
- backsolution — The process or result of backsolving.
- balsamaceous — any of various fragrant exudations from certain trees, especially trees of the genus Commiphora, as balm-of-Gilead. Compare balm (def 1).
- bank account — A bank account is an arrangement with a bank which allows you to keep your money in the bank and to take some out when you need it.
- banner cloud — a plume-shaped cloud extending downwind from an isolated mountain peak. Also called cloud banner. Compare cap cloud (def 1).
- barcalounger — a type of reclinable armchair with an extendable footrest
- barge couple — either of a pair of outside rafters along the gable end of a roof
- barge course — the overhang of the gable end of a roof
- bean counter — You can describe people such as accountants and business managers as bean counters if you disapprove of them because you think they are only interested in money.
- bifunctional — having two functions
- binocularity — binocular characteristics
- bioacoustics — the study of animals' use of sound
- biomolecular — relating to a biomolecule
- black grouse — a large N European grouse, Lyrurus tetrix, the male of which has a bluish-black plumage and lyre-shaped tail
- black liquor — (in making wood pulp for paper) the liquor that remains after digestion.
- black locust — Also called false acacia, yellow locust. a North American tree, Robinia pseudoacacia, of the legume family, having pinnate leaves and clusters of fragrant white flowers.
- black tongue — canine pellagra.
- bombacaceous — of, relating to, or belonging to the Bombacaceae, a family of tropical trees, including the kapok tree and baobab, that have very thick stems, often with water-storing tissue
- boudin blanc — a boiled sausage made with light-colored meat, as veal or chicken, and without blood
- boulder clay — an unstratified glacial deposit consisting of fine clay, boulders, and pebbles
- bounce flash — a flash lamp designed to produce a bounced flash.
- bound charge — any electric charge that is bound to an atom or molecule (opposed to free charge).
- brachycerous — (of insects) having short antennae
- broad church — You can refer to an organization, group, or area of activity as a broad church when it includes a wide range of opinions, beliefs, or styles.
- brochureware — (jargon, business) A planned, but non-existent, product, like vaporware but with the added implication that marketing is actively selling and promoting it (they've printed brochures). Brochureware is often deployed to con customers into not committing to a competing existing product. The term is now especially applicable to new websites, website revisions, and ancillary services such as customer support and product return. Owing to the explosion of database-driven, cookie-using dot-coms (of the sort that can now deduce that you are, in fact, a dog), the term is now also used to describe sites made up of static HTML pages that contain not much more than contact info and mission statements. The term suggests that the company is small, irrelevant to the web, local in scope, clueless, broke, just starting out, or some combination thereof. Many new companies without product, funding, or even staff, post brochureware with investor info and press releases to help publicise their ventures. As of December 1999, examples include pop.com and cdradio.com. Small-timers that really have no business on the web such as lawncare companies and divorce laywers inexplicably have brochureware made that stays unchanged for years.
- buccolingual — of or relating to the cheek and tongue.
- bucket about — (esp of a boat in a storm) to toss or shake violently
- bullock cart — a cart pulled by one or two bullocks
- bunco artist — a confidence trickster or con artist
- buoyancy aid — a type of usually foam-filled lifejacket designed for use in sports such as canoeing
- burseraceous — of, relating to, or belonging to the Burseraceae, a tropical family of trees and shrubs having compound leaves and resin or balsam in their stems. The family includes bdellium and some balsams
- cacao butter — cocoa butter
- cacophonious — cacophonous
- cadaverously — In a cadaverous manner.
- cadent house — any of the four houses that precede the angles: the third, sixth, ninth, and twelfth houses, which correspond, respectively, to neighborhood and relatives, work and health, philosophy and foreign travel, and secret matters and service to others.
- calamitously — In a calamitous manner.
- calcareously — in a calcareous manner