| anaconda |
any of several large nonvenomous constrictor snakes, esp. a certain South American tree snake that can grow to over twenty feet in length. |
| anchorage |
a place where vessels can anchor. [1/4 definitions] |
| animism |
the belief that spiritual beings or souls can exist without a body to house them. [1/3 definitions] |
| antimere |
either of the corresponding parts that can be the result of dividing an animal symmetrically. |
| aquifer |
a bed of rock, sand, or gravel that can hold great quantities of water and supplies it to wells and springs. |
| armful |
the quantity that can be carried by one arm or in the arms. |
| armload |
the amount (of things) that can be carried cradled in the arms, or the things themselves. |
| asbestos |
one of two forms of a mineral that can be separated into fibers, is not combustible, and is resistant to chemical action, used to make fireproofing and insulating materials. [1/2 definitions] |
| asset |
(pl.) property that can be exchanged for cash. [1/3 definitions] |
| at-large election |
an election in which every voter can vote for candidates to fill any and all vacant positions in a representative body. Unlike a single-member election, in which people can vote only for candidates who represent their particular legislative district, at-large elections allow every person to vote on each vacant position within a governing body. |
| atmospheric river |
a very long and narrow wind corridor that transports a vast amount of water vapor through the sky, which can result in drenching rainstorms for particular areas. |
| attachment |
a supplementary device that can be fastened onto the main device; accessory. [2/6 definitions] |
| babe in the woods |
a naive or inexperienced person, esp. one who can be easily exploited. |
| backrest |
something against which one can rest one's back. |
| bactericide |
something that can kill bacteria. |
| bagful |
the amount that a bag can or does hold. [1/2 definitions] |
| ball bearing |
a bearing composed of a track containing freely rolling metal balls, against which or within which a shaft or other part can rotate without friction. [1/2 definitions] |
| bar code |
a set of vertical bars of varying widths containing coded information that can be read by an optical scanner, usu. printed on the labels of consumer goods, on mail, and the like. (Cf. Universal Product Code.) |
| bargaining chip |
something that can be used in negotiating or making deals, esp. if likely to yield an advantage. |
| barometer |
anything that can be used to predict changes. [1/2 definitions] |
| barrel |
the quantity that such a vessel can hold, used as a unit of capacity, varying from thirty-one to forty-two gallons in the United States. (abbr.: bbl.) [1/6 definitions] |