12-letter words containing h, y
- biogeography — the branch of biology concerned with the geographical distribution of plants and animals
- biorhythmics — the study of biorhythms
- biosynthesis — the formation of complex compounds from simple substances by living organisms
- biosynthetic — of, relating to, or characterized by biosynthesis, the formation of chemical compounds by a living organism, or a laboratory process modeled after these reactions in living organisms.
- birch family — the plant family Betulaceae, characterized by deciduous trees having simple serrate leaves, male flowers in drooping catkins, female flowers in short clusters, and one-seeded nuts, and including the alder, birch, hazel, and hornbeam.
- birth family — one's biological parents and siblings, as contrasted with one's adoptive family.
- birthday boy — the boy or man whose birthday is being celebrated
- black cherry — a tree of the species Prunus serotina, having a small fleshy rounded edible fruit containing a hard stone
- bloodthirsty — Bloodthirsty people are eager to use violence or display a strong interest in violent things. You can also use bloodthirsty to refer to very violent situations.
- bloody shirt — something, as a political issue or historical event, that can be used to stir up outrage, partisan support, etc.
- body english — a follow-through motion of the body, as after bowling a ball, in a semi-involuntary or joking effort to control the ball's movement
- boehm system — a system of improved fingering and keying for the flute and clarinet, invented by the German musician Theobald Boehm (1794–1881).
- bombay hills — a row of hills marking the southern boundary of greater Auckland on the North Island, New Zealand
- bothy ballad — a folk song, esp one from the farming community of NE Scotland
- brachycephal — a person with a brachycephalic head
- brachycerous — (of insects) having short antennae
- brachycranic — having a cranial index of 81.0–85.4.
- brachygraphy — shorthand; stenography
- brahmacharya — the stage of life of the student, entailing study of the Vedas and complete celibacy, usually lasting for twelve years.
- breathalyser — a device for estimating the amount of alcohol in the breath: used in testing people suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol
- breathalyzer — A Breathalyzer is a bag or electronic device that the police use to test whether a driver has drunk too much alcohol.
- breathe easy — to take air, oxygen, etc., into the lungs and expel it; inhale and exhale; respire.
- breathlessly — without breath or breathing with difficulty; gasping; panting: We were breathless after the steep climb.
- brigham city — a city in N Utah.
- bronchoscopy — an examination by means of a bronchoscope.
- brush turkey — any of several gallinaceous birds, esp Alectura lathami, of New Guinea and Australia, having a black plumage: family Megapodidae (megapodes)
- brushability — the quality of being brushable
- bushy-tailed — bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, fresh, alert, eager, and lively
- buy the farm — a tract of land, usually with a house, barn, silo, etc., on which crops and often livestock are raised for livelihood.
- by the balls — so as to be rendered powerless
- by the dozen — in large quantities
- by the score — If things happen or exist by the score, they happen or exist in large numbers.
- by wholesale — at wholesale
- by-a-whisker — whiskers, a beard.
- cache memory — a small area of memory in a computer that can be accessed very quickly
- cachinnatory — Pertaining to loud or immoderate laughter.
- calycanthemy — the abnormal development of the calyx of a flower into a structure resembling a corolla
- cam ranh bay — an inlet of the South China Sea, on the SE coast of Vietnam: U. S. military facility during the Vietnam War.
- capraldehyde — (chemistry) decanal.
- carbohydrase — a digestive enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates through hydrolysis
- carbohydrate — Carbohydrates are substances, found in certain kinds of food, that provide you with energy. Foods such as sugar and bread that contain these substances can also be referred to as carbohydrates.
- cardiography — electrocardiograph.
- carry weight — to be important, influential, etc.
- cartoonishly — in a cartoonish manner
- case history — A person's case history is the record of past events or problems that have affected them, especially their medical history.
- cash economy — an economic system, or part of one, in which financial transactions are carried out in cash rather than via direct debit, standing order, bank transfer, or credit card
- cash payment — an immediate payment in cash
- cataphyllary — a scale-like, simple form of a leaf, such as those which surround a bud
- cataphysical — perverse; contrary to nature
- cathode rays — a stream of electrons emitted from the surface of a cathode in a valve