12-letter words containing c, u
- barcalounger — a type of reclinable armchair with an extendable footrest
- bare-knuckle — without boxing gloves
- 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
- bathtub race — a sailing race between bathtubs fitted with outboard motors
- be no slouch — If you say that someone is no slouch at a particular activity, you mean that they are skilful at it or are willing to work hard at it.
- 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.
- beaumarchais — Pierre Augustin Caron de (pjɛr oɡystɛ̃ karɔ̃ də). 1732–99, French dramatist, noted for his comedies The Barber of Seville (1775) and The Marriage of Figaro (1784)
- beauty cream — a cosmetic cream
- bechuanaland — former British territory (1884-1966) in S Africa: now the country of Botswana
- beijing duck — a roasted duck prized for its crisp skin, prepared by forcing air between skin and meat, brushing with sugar water, and hanging up to dry before final cooking.
- benefit club — a club whose members enjoy certain benefits, such as reduced prices for travel or sporting events
- beurre blanc — an emulsion of cold butter in a white wine or vinegar and shallot reduction
- bezier curve — (graphics) A type of curve defined by mathematical formulae, used in computer graphics. A curve with coordinates P(u), where u varies from 0 at one end of the curve to 1 at the other, is defined by a set of n+1 "control points" (X(i), Y(i), Z(i)) for i = 0 to n. P(u) = Sum i=0..n [(X(i), Y(i), Z(i)) * B(i, n, u)] B(i, n, u) = C(n, i) * u^i * (1-u)^(n-i) C(n, i) = n!/i!/(n-i)! A Bezier curve (or surface) is defined by its control points, which makes it invariant under any affine mapping (translation, rotation, parallel projection), and thus even under a change in the axis system. You need only to transform the control points and then compute the new curve. The control polygon defined by the points is itself affine invariant. Bezier curves also have the variation-diminishing property. This makes them easier to split compared to other types of curve such as Hermite or B-spline. Other important properties are multiple values, global and local control, versatility, and order of continuity.
- biarticulate — having two joints, as the antennae of certain insects.
- biauriculate — having two auricles or earlike parts
- bibb lettuce — a type of butterhead lettuce, formed in loose heads of very crisp, dark-green leaves
- bicycle pump — a hand pump for pumping air into the tyres of a bicycle
- bifunctional — having two functions
- billiard cue — a long cue used for playing billiards
- billow cloud — a cloud consisting of broad, parallel bands oriented perpendicularly to the wind.
- binocularity — binocular characteristics
- bio-security — the precautions taken to protect against the spread of lethal or harmful organisms and diseases
- bioacoustics — the study of animals' use of sound
- biocomputing — the application of computing to problems in biology, biochemistry, and genetics
- biomolecular — relating to a biomolecule
- biscuit ware — unglazed earthenware
- black beauty — a Biphetamine capsule.
- black butter — beurre noir.
- 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 muslim — a member of the Black Muslims
- black plague — Great Plague.
- black spruce — a coniferous tree, Picea mariana, of the northern regions of North America, growing mostly in cold bogs and having dark green needles
- black sucker — a hog sucker, Hypentelium nigricans, of eastern U.S. streams.
- black tongue — canine pellagra.
- black walnut — a North American walnut tree, Juglans nigra, with hard dark wood and edible oily nuts
- black-figure — pertaining to or designating a style of vase painting developed in Greece in the 7th and 6th centuries b.c., chiefly characterized by silhouetted figures painted in black slip on a red clay body, details incised into the design, and a two-dimensional structure of form and space.
- blackcurrant — In Europe, blackcurrants are a type of very small, dark purple fruits that grow in bunches on bushes.
- blank cheque — If someone is given a blank cheque, they are given the authority to spend as much money as they need or want.
- blockbusting — A blockbusting film or book is one that is very successful, usually because it is very exciting.
- bloodcurdler — something causing great fright or horror: a bloodcurdler of a mystery novel.
- bloodsucking — any animal that sucks blood, especially a leech.
- blue catfish — a large freshwater catfish, Ictalurus furcatus, that is a popular food fish in the states of the Mississippi River valley.
- blue succory — a composite garden plant, Catananche caerulea, of southern Europe, having very hairy leaves and blue flower heads, used by the ancients as a love potion.
- bluestocking — A bluestocking is an intellectual woman.
- 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
- bonne bouche — a tasty titbit or morsel
- bonus scheme — a scheme in a company or other organization according to which employees receive a bonus if they meet specified targets