Nouns denoting natural events
- abatement
- an interruption in the intensity or amount of something
- abiotrophy
- a loss of vitality and a degeneration of cells and tissues not due to any apparent injury
- abortion
- failure of a plan
- accident
- an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
- accident
- anything that happens suddenly or by chance without an apparent cause
- accidental injury
- an accident that results in physical damage or hurt
- accommodation
- making or becoming suitable; adjusting to circumstances
- accompaniment
- an event or situation that happens at the same time as or in connection with another
- acoustic wave
- (acoustics) a wave that transmits sound
- act of God
- a natural and unavoidable catastrophe that interrupts the expected course of events
- action potential
- the local voltage change across the cell wall as a nerve impulse is transmitted
- adaptive radiation
- the development of many different forms from an originally homogeneous group of organisms as they fill different ecological niches
- adrenarche
- the increase in activity of the adrenal glands just before puberty
- advance
- a change for the better; progress in development
- advance
- a movement forward
- adversity
- a stroke of ill fortune; a calamitous event
- aegir
- a high wave (often dangerous) caused by tidal flow (as by colliding tidal currents or in a narrow estuary)
- aetiology
- the cause of a disease
- affair
- a vaguely specified social event
- affliction
- a cause of great suffering and distress
- aftermath
- the outcome of an event especially as relative to an individual
- aftershock
- a tremor (or one of a series of tremors) occurring after the main shock of an earthquake
- air flow
- the flow of air
- air wave
- a sound wave that is transmitted via air
- airburst
- an explosion in the atmosphere
- algorithm error
- error resulting from the choice of the wrong algorithm or method for achieving the intended result
- alignment
- (astronomy) apparent meeting or passing of two or more celestial bodies in the same degree of the zodiac
- allogamy
- cross-fertilization in plants
- allomerism
- (chemistry) variability in chemical composition without variation in crystalline form
- alpha
- the beginning of a series or sequence
- alteration
- an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another
- amphimixis
- union of sperm and egg in sexual reproduction
- amplitude
- (physics) the maximum displacement of a periodic wave
- angelus
- the sound of a bell rung in Roman Catholic churches to announce the time when the Angelus should be recited
- annihilation
- total destruction
- annular eclipse
- only a thin outer disk of the sun can be seen
- antecedent
- a preceding occurrence or cause or event
- anticlimax
- a disappointing decline after a previous rise
- apocalypse
- a cosmic cataclysm in which God destroys the ruling powers of evil
- appalling
- an experience that appalls
- apparition
- the appearance of a ghostlike figure
- appearance
- the event of coming into sight
- approach
- the event of one object coming closer to another
- arms race
- a competition between nations to have the most powerful armaments
- ascension
- (astronomy) the rising of a star above the horizon
- Ascension of Christ
- (New Testament) the rising of the body of Jesus into heaven on the 40th day after his Resurrection
- ascension
- a movement upward
- associate
- any event that usually accompanies or is closely connected with another
- Assumption
- (Christianity) the taking up of the body and soul of the Virgin Mary when her earthly life had ended
- atavism
- a reappearance of an earlier characteristic
- athletic competition
- a contest between athletes
- atmospheric static
- a crackling or hissing noise caused by electrical interference
- atomic explosion
- the explosion of an atomic bomb
- atrophy
- any weakening or degeneration (especially through lack of use)
- attenuation
- weakening in force or intensity
- attrition
- a wearing down to weaken or destroy
- augmentation
- the amount by which something increases
- augury
- an event that is experienced as indicating important things to come
- auspice
- a favorable omen
- auto race
- a race between (usually high-performance) automobiles
- autogamy
- self-fertilization in plants
- avalanche
- a slide of large masses of snow and ice and mud down a mountain
- avalanche
- a sudden appearance of an overwhelming number of things
- avulsion
- an abrupt change in the course of a stream that forms the boundary between two parcels of land resulting in the loss of part of the land of one landowner and a consequent increase in the land of another
- axial motion
- rotary motion of an object around its own axis
- baa
- the cry made by sheep
- backblast
- backfire from a recoilless weapon
- backfire
- a loud noise made by the explosion of fuel in the manifold or exhaust of an internal combustion engine
- backfire
- a fire that is set intentionally in order to slow an approaching forest fire or grassfire by clearing a burned area in its path
- backfire
- the backward escape of gases and unburned gunpowder after a gun is fired
- backflow
- a flow that returns toward its source
- background
- relatively unimportant or inconspicuous accompanying situation
- background noise
- extraneous noise contaminating sound measurements that cannot be separated from the desired signal
- background radiation
- radiation coming from sources other than those being observed
- background
- extraneous signals that can be confused with the phenomenon to be observed or measured
- backlash
- a movement back from an impact
- backspin
- spin (usually of a moving ball) that retards or reverses the forward motion
- backwash
- the wave that spreads behind a boat as it moves forward
- bad luck
- unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event
- balefire
- a large outdoor fire that is lighted as a signal or in celebration
- ball
- a lavish dance requiring formal attire
- bam
- a sudden very loud noise
- bang
- a vigorous blow
- banging
- a continuing very loud noise
- bar mitzvah
- (Judaism) an initiation ceremony marking the 13th birthday of a Jewish boy and signifying the beginning of religious responsibility
- bark
- the sound made by a dog
- bark
- a noise resembling the bark of a dog
- barn dance
- a dance party featuring country dancing
- barnburner
- an impressively successful event
- bas mitzvah
- (Judaism) an initiation ceremony marking the 12th birthday of a Jewish girl and signifying the beginning of religious responsibility
- bash
- an uproarious party
- battle damage
- loss of military equipment in battle
- bay
- the sound of a hound on the scent
- beat
- the sound of stroke or blow
- beat
- the rhythmic contraction and expansion of the arteries with each beat of the heart
- beep
- a short high tone produced as a signal or warning
- beginning
- the event consisting of the start of something
- bell ringing
- the sound of someone playing a set of bells
- bell
- the sound of a bell being struck
- Belmont Stakes
- an annual race for three-year-old horses; held on Long Island at Elmont, New York
- bend
- movement that causes the formation of a curve
- bicycle race
- a race between people riding bicycles
- big bang
- (cosmology) the cosmic explosion that is hypothesized to have marked the origin of the universe
- billow
- a large sea wave
- birr
- sound of something in rapid motion
- birth
- the event of being born
- birthday party
- a party held on the anniversary of someone's birth
- bit
- an instance of some kind
- bite
- (angling) an instance of a fish taking the bait
- black eye
- an unfortunate happening that hinders or impedes; something that is thwarting or frustrating
- blackout
- the failure of electric power for a general region
- blare
- a loud harsh or strident noise
- blast
- an explosion (as of dynamite)
- blast wave
- a region of high pressure travelling through a gas at a high velocity
- blast
- a highly pleasurable or exciting experience
- blaze
- a cause of difficulty and suffering
- bleat
- the sound of sheep or goats (or any sound resembling this)
- blend
- an occurrence of thorough mixing
- blessed event
- the live birth of a child
- blighty wound
- a wound that would cause an English soldier to be sent home from service abroad
- blip
- a sudden minor shock or meaningless interruption
- blow
- an impact (as from a collision)
- blow
- an unpleasant or disappointing surprise
- blowout
- a sudden malfunction of a part or apparatus
- blowout
- an easy victory
- blowup
- a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction
- boat race
- a race between people rowing or driving boats
- bomb blast
- the explosion of a bomb
- bomb
- an event that fails badly or is totally ineffectual
- bombilation
- sound of rapid vibration
- bombshell
- a shocking surprise
- bonanza
- a sudden happening that brings good fortune (as a sudden opportunity to make money)
- bong
- a dull resonant sound as of a bell
- boom
- a deep prolonged loud noise
- bother
- an angry disturbance
- bounce
- rebounding from an impact (or series of impacts)
- bout
- a contest or fight (especially between boxers or wrestlers)
- bow-wow
- the bark of a dog
- boxing match
- a match between boxers; usually held in a boxing ring
- brake failure
- brakes fail to stop a vehicle
- bray
- the cry of an ass
- breach
- a personal or social separation (as between opposing factions)
- break
- an abrupt change in the tone or register of the voice (as at puberty or due to emotion)
- break
- the occurrence of breaking
- break
- an unexpected piece of good luck
- break
- some abrupt occurrence that interrupts an ongoing activity
- breakdown
- a cessation of normal operation
- breaker
- waves breaking on the shore
- breakup
- coming apart
- breath of fresh air
- a welcome relief
- broad jump
- a competition that involves jumping as far as possible from a running start
- brouhaha
- loud confused noise from many sources
- brush fire
- an uncontrolled fire that consumes brush and shrubs and bushes
- brush
- momentary contact
- buffeting
- repeated heavy blows
- bunfight
- (Briticism) a grand formal party on an important occasion
- burial
- the ritual placing of a corpse in a grave
- burnup
- a high-speed motorcycle race on a public road
- burst
- a sudden intense happening
- business cycle
- recurring fluctuations in economic activity consisting of recession and recovery and growth and decline
- bust
- a complete failure
- cackle
- the sound made by a hen after laying an egg
- calamity
- an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
- calvary
- any experience that causes intense suffering
- cam stroke
- the maximum movement available to a pivoted or reciprocating piece by a cam
- campaign for governor
- a race for election to the governorship
- campaign
- a race between candidates for elective office
- campfire
- a small outdoor fire for warmth or cooking (as at a camp)
- capsizing
- (nautical) the event of a boat accidentally turning over in the water
- cardiac cycle
- the complete cycle of events in the heart from the beginning of one heart beat to the beginning of the next; an electrical impulse conducted through the heart muscle that constricts the atria which is followed by constriction of the ventricles
- Carnot's ideal cycle
- a cycle (of expansion and compression) of an idealized reversible heat engine that does work without loss of heat
- carom
- a glancing rebound
- cascade
- a sudden downpour (as of tears or sparks etc) likened to a rain shower
- case
- an occurrence of something
- casualty
- a decrease of military personnel or equipment
- casualty
- an accident that causes someone to die
- casus belli
- an event used to justify starting a war
- cataplasia
- (biology) degenerative reversion of cells or tissue to a less differentiated or more primitive form
- caterwaul
- the yowling sound made by a cat in heat
- cause
- events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
- cause celebre
- an incident that attracts great public attention
- cave in
- the sudden collapse of something into a hollow beneath it
- caw
- the sound made by corvine birds
- ceilidh
- an informal social gathering at which there is Scottish or Irish folk music and singing and folk dancing and story telling
- celebration
- a joyful occasion for special festivities to mark some happy event
- ceremonial
- a formal event performed on a special occasion
- cessation
- a stopping
- championship
- a competition at which a champion is chosen
- change of location
- a movement through space that changes the location of something
- changeover
- an event that results in a transformation
- chapter
- a series of related events forming an episode
- chariot race
- a race between ancient chariots
- Charybdis
- (Greek mythology) a ship-devouring whirlpool lying on the other side of a narrow strait from Scylla
- chatter
- the high-pitched continuing noise made by animals (birds or monkeys)
- chatter
- the rapid series of noises made by the parts of a machine
- checkmate
- complete victory
- cheep
- the short weak cry of a young bird
- chess match
- a match between chess players
- chicken
- a foolhardy competition; a dangerous activity that is continued until one competitor becomes afraid and stops
- chink
- a short light metallic sound
- chirp
- a sharp sound made by small birds or insects
- chirrup
- a series of chirps
- chorus
- any utterance produced simultaneously by a group
- Christianization
- conversion to Christianity
- chromosomal mutation
- (genetics) any event that changes genetic structure; any alteration in the inherited nucleic acid sequence of the genotype of an organism
- chug
- the dull explosive noise made by an engine
- circulation
- free movement or passage (as of cytoplasm within a cell or sap through a plant)
- circumstance
- formal ceremony about important occasions
- clack
- a sharp abrupt noise as if two objects hit together; may be repeated
- claiming race
- a horse race in which each owner declares before the race at what price his horse will be offered for sale after the race
- clang
- a loud resonant repeating noise
- clatter
- a rattling noise (often produced by rapid movement)
- cleistogamy
- the production of small nonopening self-pollinating flowers
- click-clack
- a succession of clicks
- clickety-clack
- a fast and rhythmic click-clack
- cliffhanger
- a contest whose outcome is uncertain up to the very end
- climax
- the highest point of anything conceived of as growing or developing or unfolding
- climb
- an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)
- clip
- an instance or single occasion for some event
- clip-clop
- the sound of a horse's hoofs hitting on a hard surface
- clockwise rotation
- rotation to the right
- cluck
- the sound made by a hen (as in calling her chicks)
- clump
- a heavy dull sound (as made by impact of heavy objects)
- coarctation
- tight or narrow compression
- cock-a-doodle-doo
- an imitation of the crow of a cock
- cockfight
- a match in a cockpit between two fighting cocks heeled with metal gaffs
- cocktail party
- an afternoon party at which cocktails are served
- coincidence
- an event that might have been arranged although it was really accidental
- collapse
- a natural event caused by something suddenly falling down or caving in
- collapse
- a sudden large decline of business or the prices of stocks (especially one that causes additional failures)
- collateral damage
- (euphemism) inadvertent casualties and destruction inflicted on civilians in the course of military operations
- collision
- an accident resulting from violent impact of a moving object
- collision
- (physics) a brief event in which two or more bodies come together
- combat injury
- a casualty to military personnel resulting from combat
- comber
- a long curling sea wave
- combine
- an occurrence that results in things being united
- comeupance
- an outcome (good or bad) that is well deserved and fitting
- coming back
- the occurrence of a change in direction back in the opposite direction
- commemoration
- a ceremony to honor the memory of someone or something
- commencement
- an academic exercise in which diplomas are conferred
- commotion
- confused movement
- compaction
- an increase in the density of something
- competition
- an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants
- complication
- a development that complicates a situation
- compression
- the process or result of becoming smaller or pressed together
- computer error
- (computer science) the occurrence of an incorrect result produced by a computer
- concentration
- increase in density
- conception
- the event that occurred at the beginning of something
- conclusion
- event whose occurrence ends something
- concoction
- an occurrence of an unusual mixture
- concussion
- injury to the brain caused by a blow; usually resulting in loss of consciousness
- concussion
- any violent blow
- conflagration
- a very intense and uncontrolled fire
- conglobation
- an occurrence combining miscellaneous things into a (more or less) rounded mass
- conjuncture
- a critical combination of events or circumstances
- conservation
- an occurrence of improvement by virtue of preventing loss or injury or other change
- consolidation
- combining into a solid mass
- contact
- the physical coming together of two or more things
- contagion
- an incident in which an infectious disease is transmitted
- contingence
- a possible event or occurrence or result
- convergence
- the occurrence of two or more things coming together
- conversion
- a change of religion
- convulsion
- a physical disturbance such as an earthquake or upheaval
- coo
- the sound made by a pigeon
- corollary
- a practical consequence that follows naturally
- coronation
- the ceremony of installing a new monarch
- coruscation
- the occurrence of a small flash or spark
- cotilion
- a ball at which young ladies are presented to society
- counterclockwise rotation
- rotation to the left
- countercurrent
- a stretch of turbulent water in a river or the sea caused by one current flowing into or across another current
- coup de theatre
- a dramatic surprise
- crack
- a sudden sharp noise
- crackle
- the sharp sound of snapping noises
- crash
- (computer science) an event that causes a computer system to become inoperative
- crash
- a serious accident (usually involving one or more vehicles)
- creak
- a squeaking sound
- creep
- a slow longitudinal movement or deformation
- crepitation rale
- the crackling sound heard on auscultation when patients with respiratory diseases inhale; associated with tuberculosis and pneumonia and congestive heart failure
- crestless wave
- the undulating movement of the surface of the open sea
- cricket match
- a match between two cricket teams
- crime wave
- a sudden rise in the crime rate
- crisis
- a crucial stage or turning point in the course of something
- crit
- a bicycle race held on a short course (usually less than 5 km or 3 miles)
- cross country
- a long race run over open country
- cross-fertilisation
- fertilization by the union of male and female gametes from different individual of the same species
- cross-pollination
- fertilization by transfer of pollen from the anthers of one flower to the stigma of another
- crow
- the cry of a cock (or an imitation of it)
- crown fire
- a forest fire that advances with great speed jumping from crown to crown ahead of the ground fire
- Crucifixion
- the death of Jesus by crucifixion
- crunch
- the sound of something crunching
- crustal movement
- movement resulting from or causing deformation of the earth's crust
- cry
- the characteristic utterance of an animal
- cup final
- the final match of any cup competition (such as the annual final of the English soccer competition at Wembley)
- current
- a steady flow of a fluid (usually from natural causes)
- curse
- a severe affliction
- curtain raising
- the first performance (as of a theatrical production)
- cycle
- a periodically repeated sequence of events
- cycle of rebirth
- (Hinduism) repeated rebirth in new forms
- cycle
- a single complete execution of a periodically repeated phenomenon
- daily variation
- fluctuations that occur between one day and the next
- damage
- loss of military equipment
- damage
- the occurrence of a change for the worse
- dance
- a party for social dancing
- dash
- a footrace run at top speed
- dawn
- the earliest period
- day of reckoning
- an unpleasant or disastrous destiny
- dead heat
- a tie in a race
- deal
- the type of treatment received (especially as the result of an agreement)
- death knell
- an omen of death or destruction
- death
- the event of dying or departure from life
- debacle
- a sound defeat
- debacle
- a sudden and violent collapse
- debilitation
- serious weakening and loss of energy
- debris storm
- the sudden spread of dust and debris from a collapsing building
- decathlon
- an athletic contest consisting of ten different events
- decision
- the outcome of a game or contest
- decision
- (boxing) a victory won on points when no knockout has occurred
- decrease
- a change downward
- decrepitation
- the crackling or breaking up of certain crystals when they are heated
- dedication
- a ceremony in which something (as a building) is dedicated to some goal or purpose
- defeat
- an unsuccessful ending to a struggle or contest
- defervescence
- abatement of a fever as indicated by a reduction in body temperature
- deflection
- the movement of the pointer or pen of a measuring instrument from its zero position
- deflection
- the amount by which a propagating wave is bent
- deformation
- alteration in the shape or dimensions of an object as a result of the application of stress to it
- deformation
- a change for the worse
- degeneration
- passing from a more complex to a simpler biological form
- deletion
- (genetics) the loss or absence of one or more nucleotides from a chromosome
- deliquium
- a spontaneous loss of consciousness caused by insufficient blood to the brain
- delivery
- the event of giving birth
- demolition
- an event (or the result of an event) that completely destroys something
- denouement
- the outcome of a complex sequence of events
- departure
- a variation that deviates from the standard or norm
- departure
- euphemistic expressions for death
- depredation
- (usually plural) a destructive action
- derailment
- an accident in which a train runs off its track
- descent
- a movement downward
- desolation
- an event that results in total destruction
- destabilization
- an event that causes a loss of equilibrium (as of a ship or aircraft)
- destiny
- an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
- detriment
- a damage or loss
- development
- a recent event that has some relevance for the present situation
- Diaspora
- the dispersion of the Jews outside Israel; from the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 587-86 BC when they were exiled to Babylonia up to the present time
- diastole
- the widening of the chambers of the heart between two contractions when the chambers fill with blood
- diffusion
- the spread of social institutions (and myths and skills) from one society to another
- ding
- a ringing sound
- ding-dong
- the noise made by a bell
- dip
- a brief immersion
- direct tide
- the occurrence of high tide on one side of the earth coinciding with high tide on the opposite side
- disappearance
- the event of passing out of sight
- disappearance
- ceasing to exist
- discharge
- the sudden giving off of energy
- discharge
- the pouring forth of a fluid
- discrepancy
- an event that departs from expectations
- discus
- an athletic competition in which a disk-shaped object is thrown as far as possible
- disembarrassment
- something that extricates you from embarrassment
- disk error
- error resulting from malfunction of a magnetic disk
- dislocation
- an event that results in a displacement or discontinuity
- dismemberment
- the removal of limbs; being cut to pieces
- dispersion
- spreading widely or driving off
- displacement
- an event in which something is displaced without rotation
- dissilience
- the emergence of seeds as seed pods burst open when they are ripe
- dissipation
- breaking up and scattering by dispersion
- disturbance
- electrical or acoustic activity that can disturb communication
- disturbance
- activity that is a malfunction, intrusion, or interruption
- diurnal variation
- fluctuations that occur during each day
- diving
- an athletic competition that involves diving into water
- dog racing
- a race between dogs; usually an occasion for betting on the outcome
- dogfight
- a fiercely disputed contest
- downfall
- a sudden decline in strength or number or importance
- downfall
- failure that results in a loss of position or reputation
- downhill
- a ski race down a trail
- drama
- an episode that is turbulent or highly emotional
- draw
- the finish of a contest in which the score is tied and the winner is undecided
- dressing
- making fertile as by applying fertilizer or manure
- dribble
- flowing in drops; the formation and falling of drops of liquid
- driftage
- the deviation (by a vessel or aircraft) from its intended course due to drifting
- drip
- the sound of a liquid falling drop by drop
- drippage
- a liquid (as water) that flows in drops (as from the eaves of house)
- drop
- a free and rapid descent by the force of gravity
- drum
- the sound of a drum
- drum roll
- the sound of a drum (especially a snare drum) beaten rapidly and continuously
- drumbeat
- the sound made by beating a drum
- dud
- an explosion that fails to occur
- dwindling
- a becoming gradually less
- earth tremor
- a small earthquake
- earthquake
- shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane or from volcanic activity
- easing
- a change for the better
- ebb
- the outward flow of the tide
- ebbtide
- the tide while water is flowing out
- eclipse
- one celestial body obscures another
- eddy
- a miniature whirlpool or whirlwind resulting when the current of a fluid doubles back on itself
- egress
- the becoming visible
- egress
- (astronomy) the reappearance of a celestial body after an eclipse
- elaboration
- the result of improving something
- electrical discharge
- a discharge of electricity
- elevation
- the event of something being raised upward
- elimination tournament
- a tournament in which losers are eliminated in successive rounds
- emanation
- (theology) the origination of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
- embarrassment
- some event that causes someone to be embarrassed
- emergence
- the gradual beginning or coming forth
- emergency
- a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action
- emission
- the occurrence of a flow of water (as from a pipe)
- encounter
- a casual or unexpected convergence
- encroachment
- any entry into an area not previously occupied
- end game
- the final stages of a chess game after most of the pieces have been removed from the board
- end game
- the final stages of an extended process of negotiation
- end
- the final stage or concluding parts of an event or occurrence
- engagement
- contact by fitting together
- engine failure
- engine does not run
- English
- (sports) the spin given to a ball by striking it on one side or releasing it with a sharp twist
- entering
- a movement into or inward
- epidemic
- a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease; many people are infected at the same time
- epiphany
- a divine manifestation
- episode
- a happening that is distinctive in a series of related events
- eradication
- the complete destruction of every trace of something
- eruption
- the emergence of a tooth as it breaks through the gum
- eruption
- a sudden violent spontaneous occurrence (usually of some undesirable condition)
- eruption
- the sudden occurrence of a violent discharge of steam and volcanic material
- escape
- the discharge of a fluid from some container
- evanescence
- the event of fading and gradually vanishing from sight
- exercise
- (usually plural) a ceremony that involves processions and speeches
- expense
- a detriment or sacrifice
- experience
- an event as apprehended
- explosion
- the noise caused by an explosion
- explosion
- a sudden great increase
- extermination
- complete annihilation
- extrasystole
- a premature systole resulting in a momentary cardiac arrhythmia
- exudation
- the process of exuding; the slow escape of liquids from blood vessels through pores or breaks in the cell membranes
- eye opener
- something surprising and revealing
- factor
- anything that contributes causally to a result
- fadeout
- a gradual temporary loss of a transmitted signal due to electrical disturbances
- fadeout
- a slow or gradual disappearance
- fading away
- gradually diminishing in brightness or loudness or strength
- failure
- an event that does not accomplish its intended purpose
- fair deal
- fair treatment
- fall
- a movement downward
- Fall
- the lapse of mankind into sinfulness because of the sin of Adam and Eve
- Fall of Man
- (Judeo-Christian mythology) when Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden, God punished them by driving them out of the Garden of Eden and into the world where they would be subject to sickness and pain and eventual death
- fall
- when a wrestler's shoulders are forced to the mat
- famine
- a severe shortage of food (as through crop failure) resulting in violent hunger and starvation and death
- fancy-dress ball
- a ball at which guests wear costumes and masks
- fatality
- a death resulting from an accident or a disaster
- fault
- (electronics) equipment failure attributable to some defect in a circuit (loose connection or insulation failure or short circuit etc.)
- feast
- something experienced with great delight
- feast
- an elaborate party (often outdoors)
- fecundation
- creation by the physical union of male and female gametes; of sperm and ova in an animal or pollen and ovule in a plant
- fender-bender
- a collision between motor vehicles that produces minor damage
- field event
- a competition that takes place on a field rather than on a running track
- field trial
- a contest between gun dogs to determine their proficiency in pointing and retrieving
- final
- the final match between the winners of all previous matches in an elimination tournament
- final result
- something that results
- finish
- the downfall of someone (as of persons on one side of a conflict)
- finish
- designated event that concludes a contest (especially a race)
- fire
- the event of something burning (often destructive)
- fire
- a severe trial
- fire walking
- the ceremony of walking barefoot over hot stones or a bed of embers
- first-place finish
- a finish in first place (as in a race)
- fizzle
- a fricative sound (especially as an expression of disapproval)
- flame-out
- a complete or conspicuous failure
- flame-out
- the failure of a jet engine caused by an interruption of the fuel supply or by faulty combustion
- flap
- the motion made by flapping up and down
- flash
- a sudden intense burst of radiant energy
- flash
- a short vivid experience
- flashback
- an unexpected but vivid recurrence of a past experience (especially a recurrence of the effects of an hallucinogenic drug taken much earlier)
- flection
- deviation from a straight or normal course
- flesh wound
- a wound that does not damage important internal organs or shatter any bones
- flick
- a light sharp contact (usually with something flexible)
- flicker
- a momentary flash of light
- flood
- the occurrence of incoming water (between a low tide and the following high tide)
- flow
- the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
- fluctuation
- a wave motion
- fluctuation
- an instance of change; the rate or magnitude of change
- flush
- a sudden rapid flow (as of water)
- flux
- a flow or discharge
- flying start
- a racing start in which the contestants are already in full motion when they pass the starting line
- flying start
- a quick and auspicious beginning
- foot race
- a race run on foot
- footfall
- the sound of a step of someone walking
- foreboding
- an unfavorable omen
- foregone conclusion
- an inevitable ending
- foreshock
- a tremor preceding an earthquake
- forest fire
- an uncontrolled fire in a wooded area
- formalities
- a requirement of etiquette or custom
- foundering
- (of a ship) sinking
- fragmentation
- the scattering of bomb fragments after the bomb explodes
- free fall
- the ideal falling motion of something subject only to a gravitational field
- freestyle
- a race (as in swimming) in which each contestant has a free choice of the style to use
- freshet
- the occurrence of a water flow resulting from sudden rain or melting snow
- fruit
- the consequence of some effort or action
- fun run
- a footrace run for fun (often including runners who are sponsored for a charity)
- fundamental
- any factor that could be considered important to the understanding of a particular business
- fundraiser
- a social function that is held for the purpose of raising money
- funeral
- a ceremony at which a dead person is buried or cremated
- fusion
- an occurrence that involves the production of a union
- gargle
- the sound produced while gargling
- gene mutation
- (genetics) a mutation due to an intramolecular reorganization of a gene
- generation
- a coming into being
- germination
- the origin of some development
- gleam
- a flash of light (especially reflected light)
- glycogenesis
- the conversion of glucose to glycogen when the glucose in the blood exceeds the demand
- gobble
- the characteristic sound made by a turkey cock
- Godspeed
- a successful journey
- Grand National
- an annual steeplechase run in Liverpool, England
- Grand Prix
- one of several international races
- grand slam
- winning all of the tricks in a hand of bridge
- grassfire
- an uncontrolled fire in a grassy area
- grate
- a harsh rasping sound made by scraping something
- gravitation
- movement downward resulting from gravitational attraction
- gravitation wave
- (physics) a wave that is hypothesized to propagate gravity and to travel at the speed of light
- gravitational collapse
- the implosion of a star resulting from its own gravity; the result is a smaller and denser celestial object
- Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution
- a radical reform in China initiated by Mao Zedong in 1965 and carried out largely by the Red Guard; intended to eliminate counterrevolutionary elements in the government it resulted in purges of the intellectuals and socioeconomic chaos
- green revolution
- the introduction of pesticides and high-yield grains and better management during the 1960s and 1970s which greatly increased agricultural productivity
- grinding
- a harsh and strident sound (as of the grinding of gears)
- ground fire
- a forest fire that burns the humus; may not appear on the surface
- ground floor
- becoming part of a venture at the beginning (regarded as position of advantage)
- ground loop
- a sharp uncontrollable turn made by an airplane while moving along the ground
- ground swell
- an obvious change of public opinion or political sentiment that occurs without leadership or overt expression
- ground swell
- a broad and deep undulation of the ocean
- growl
- the sound of growling (as made by animals)
- grumble
- a loud low dull continuous noise
- grunt
- the short low gruff noise of the kind made by hogs
- gurgle
- the bubbling sound of water flowing from a bottle with a narrow neck
- gymkhana
- a meet at which riders and horses display a range of skills and aptitudes
- gyration
- a single complete turn (axial or orbital)
- halt
- the event of something ending
- hammer throw
- an athletic competition in which a heavy metal ball that is attached to a flexible wire is hurled as far as possible
- hap
- an accidental happening
- happening
- an event that happens
- hardship
- something that causes or entails suffering
- hardware error
- error resulting from a malfunction of some physical component of the computer
- harmonic motion
- a periodic motion in which the displacement is either symmetrical about a point or is the sum of such motions
- harness race
- a horse race between people riding in sulkies behind horses that are trotting or pacing
- head crash
- (computer science) a crash of a read/write head in a hard disk drive (usually caused by contact of the head with the surface of the magnetic disk)
- head trip
- an exciting or stimulating experience
- head
- forward movement
- head
- a difficult juncture
- heartbreaker
- a narrow defeat or a defeat at the last minute
- heat
- a preliminary race in which the winner advances to a more important race
- heat flash
- a flash of intense heat (as released by an atomic explosion)
- heat lightning
- bright flashes of light near the horizon without thunder (especially on hot evenings); usually attributed to distant lightning that is reflected by clouds
- heave
- (geology) a horizontal dislocation
- heave
- an upward movement (especially a rhythmical rising and falling)
- high jump
- a competition that involves jumping as high as possible over a horizontal bar
- high tide
- the tide when the water is highest
- home stand
- a series of successive games played at a team's home field or court
- homestretch
- the end of an enterprise
- honk
- the cry of a goose (or any sound resembling this)
- hop
- an informal dance where popular music is played
- hop-step-and-jump
- an athletic contest in which a competitor must perform successively a hop and a step and a jump in continuous movement
- horse race
- a contest of speed between horses; usually held for the purpose of betting
- house party
- a party lasting over one or more nights at a large house
- howl
- a loud sustained noise resembling the cry of a hound
- howl
- the long plaintive cry of a hound or a wolf
- hum
- a humming noise
- humiliation
- an instance in which you are caused to lose your prestige or self-respect
- hurdle race
- a footrace in which contestants must negotiate a series of hurdles
- hymeneals
- the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed
- Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race
- an important dogsled race run annually on the Iditarod Trail
- idyll
- an episode of such pastoral or romantic charm as to qualify as the subject of a poetic idyll
- immersion
- (astronomy) the disappearance of a celestial body prior to an eclipse
- immersion
- sinking until covered completely with water
- impact
- the striking of one body against another
- implosion
- a sudden inward collapse
- impulse
- the electrical discharge that travels along a nerve fiber
- impulse
- (electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients)
- inception
- an event that is a beginning; a first part or stage of subsequent events
- incident
- a single distinct event
- increase
- a change resulting in an increase
- independence
- the successful ending of the American Revolution
- induction
- a formal entry into an organization or position or office
- inevitable
- an unavoidable event
- inferior conjunction
- (astronomy) the alignment of the Earth and a planet on the same side of the sun
- inflation
- (cosmology) a brief exponential expansion of the universe (faster than the speed of light) postulated to have occurred shortly after the big bang
- insertional mutagenesis
- (genetics) a mutation caused by the insertion of exogenous DNA into a genome
- instroke
- the stroke of an engine piston moving away from the crankshaft
- intravenous drip
- slow continuous drip introducing solutions intravenously (a drop at a time)
- invasion
- (pathology) the spread of pathogenic microorganisms or malignant cells to new sites in the body
- inversion
- (genetics) a kind of mutation in which the order of the genes in a section of a chromosome is reversed
- irradiation
- (physiology) the spread of sensory neural impulses in the cortex
- isomerisation
- the conversion of a compound into an isomer of itself
- jangle
- a metallic sound
- jar
- a sudden jarring impact
- javelin
- an athletic competition in which a javelin is thrown as far as possible
- jet
- the occurrence of a sudden discharge (as of liquid)
- jitter
- small rapid variations in a waveform resulting from fluctuations in the voltage supply or mechanical vibrations or other sources
- jitter
- a small irregular movement
- jolly
- a happy party
- joust
- a combat between two mounted knights tilting against each other with blunted lances
- jump
- a sudden and decisive increase
- jump
- an abrupt transition
- juncture
- an event that occurs at a critical time
- karma
- (Hinduism and Buddhism) the effects of a person's actions that determine his destiny in his next incarnation
- Kentucky Derby
- an annual race for three-year-old horses; held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky
- kick
- the backward jerk of a gun when it is fired
- kickoff
- a start given to contestants
- killing
- an event that causes someone to die
- kismat
- (Islam) the will of Allah
- kiss of death
- something that is ruinous
- knell
- the sound of a bell rung slowly to announce a death or a funeral or the end of something
- knock
- a bad experience
- knock
- the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)
- ladder
- a row of unravelled stitches
- lahar
- an avalanche of volcanic water and mud down the slopes of a volcano
- landmark
- an event marking a unique or important historical change of course or one on which important developments depend
- landslide
- an overwhelming electoral victory
- landslide
- a slide of a large mass of dirt and rock down a mountain or cliff
- last laugh
- ultimate success achieved after a near failure (inspired by the saying `he laughs best who laughs last')
- lee tide
- a tide that runs in the same direction as the wind is blowing
- levitation
- movement upward in virtue of lightness
- lift
- a wave that lifts the surface of the water or ground
- liftoff
- the initial ascent of a rocket from its launching pad
- lightening
- descent of the uterus into the pelvic cavity that occurs late in pregnancy; the fetus is said to have dropped
- lightning
- the flash of light that accompanies an electric discharge in the atmosphere (or something resembling such a flash); can scintillate for a second or more
- little slam
- winning all but one of the tricks in a hand of bridge
- live birth
- the birth of a living fetus (regardless of the length of gestation)
- loosening
- an occurrence of control or strength weakening
- loss
- the experience of losing a loved one
- loss of consciousness
- the occurrence of a loss of the ability to perceive and respond
- loss
- military personnel lost by death or capture
- lottery
- something that is regarded as a chance event
- low tide
- the lowest (farthest) ebb of the tide
- luau
- an elaborate Hawaiian feast or party (especially one accompanied by traditional foods and entertainment)
- lunar eclipse
- the earth interrupts light shining on the moon
- lurch
- a decisive defeat in a game (especially in cribbage)
- luxation
- displacement or misalignment of a joint or organ
- maelstrom
- a powerful circular current of water (usually the result of conflicting tides)
- magnetic storm
- a sudden disturbance of the earth's magnetic field; caused by emission of particles from the sun
- makeup
- an event that is substituted for a previously cancelled event
- malformation
- something abnormal or anomalous
- malfunction
- a failure to function normally
- manifestation
- a clear appearance
- manifestation
- an appearance in bodily form (as of a disembodied spirit)
- marathon
- a footrace of 26 miles 385 yards
- martyrdom
- death that is imposed because of the person's adherence of a religious faith or cause
- marvel
- something that causes feelings of wonder
- match
- a formal contest in which two or more persons or teams compete
- match game
- an international championship match
- materialisation
- something that comes into existence as a result
- Maundy
- a public ceremony on Maundy Thursday when the monarch distributes Maundy money
- meet
- a meeting at which a number of athletic contests are held
- megadeath
- the death of a million people
- meltdown
- a disaster comparable to a nuclear meltdown
- menarche
- the first occurrence of menstruation in a woman
- meow
- the sound made by a cat (or any sound resembling this)
- merry-go-round
- a never-ending cycle of activities and events (especially when they seem to have little purpose)
- might-have-been
- an event that could have occurred but never did
- migration
- the periodic passage of groups of animals (especially birds or fishes) from one region to another for feeding or breeding
- migration
- (chemistry) the nonrandom movement of an atom or radical from one place to another within a molecule
- mile
- a footrace extending one mile
- milestone
- a significant event in your life (or in a project)
- military ceremony
- a formal ceremony performed by military personnel
- miracle
- any amazing or wonderful occurrence
- miracle
- a marvellous event manifesting a supernatural act of a divine agent
- misadventure
- an instance of misfortune
- misfire
- a failure to hit (or meet or find etc)
- mix
- an event that combines things in a mixture
- moksa
- (Hinduism) release from the cycle of rebirth
- monstrosity
- something hideous or frightful
- moo
- the sound made by a cow or bull
- motion
- a natural event that involves a change in the position or location of something
- moving ridge
- one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
- mudslide
- a landslide of mud
- murmur
- a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
- mutagenesis
- an event capable of causing a mutation
- mutation
- a change or alteration in form or qualities
- mutilation
- an injury that causes disfigurement or that deprives you of a limb or other important body part
- neap
- a less than average tide occurring at the first and third quarters of the moon
- near miss
- an accidental collision that is narrowly avoided
- near-death experience
- the experience of being close to death but surviving
- neigh
- the characteristic sounds made by a horse
- news event
- a newsworthy event
- night terror
- an emotional episode (usually in young children) in which the person awakens in terror with feelings of anxiety and fear but is unable to remember any incident that might have provoked those feelings
- noise
- sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
- nonevent
- an anticipated event that turns out to be far less significant than was expected
- obstacle race
- a race in which competitors must negotiate obstacles
- Olympic Games
- the modern revival of the ancient games held once every 4 years in a selected country
- omen
- a sign of something about to happen
- oncoming
- the beginning or early stages
- one-off
- a happening that occurs only once and is not repeated
- onrush
- a forceful forward rush or flow
- onslaught
- a sudden and severe onset of trouble
- ooze
- the process of seeping
- open
- a tournament in which both professionals and amateurs may play
- opener
- the first event in a series
- opening
- a ceremony accompanying the start of some enterprise
- operational casualty
- loss of military equipment in field operations
- orbital motion
- motion of an object in an orbit around a fixed point
- ordeal
- a severe or trying experience
- oscillation
- (physics) a regular periodic variation in value about a mean
- out-of-body experience
- the dissociative experience of observing yourself from an external perspective as though your mind or soul had left and was observing your body
- outage
- a temporary suspension of operation (as of computers)
- outrage
- a disgraceful event
- outstroke
- the stroke of an engine piston moving toward the crankshaft
- overflow
- the occurrence of surplus liquid (as water) exceeding the limit or capacity
- overture
- something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows
- pageant
- a rich and spectacular ceremony
- pandemic
- an epidemic that is geographically widespread; occurring throughout a region or even throughout the world
- pant
- the noise made by a short puff of steam (as from an engine)
- parameter
- any factor that defines a system and determines (or limits) its performance
- partial eclipse
- an eclipse in which the eclipsed body is only partially obscured
- party
- an occasion on which people can assemble for social interaction and entertainment
- pass
- one complete cycle of operations (as by a computer)
- passage
- the motion of one object relative to another
- passing
- the end of something
- pat
- the sound made by a gentle blow
- patter
- a quick succession of light rapid sounds
- payoff
- a recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing
- peal
- a deep prolonged sound (as of thunder or large bells)
- pentathlon
- an athletic contest consisting of five different events
- periodic event
- an event that recurs at intervals
- periodic motion
- motion that recurs over and over and the period of time required for each recurrence remains the same
- peripeteia
- a sudden and unexpected change of fortune or reverse of circumstances (especially in a literary work)
- permutation
- an event in which one thing is substituted for another
- phenomenon
- a remarkable development
- photo finish
- in general, any very close finish; in particular, a finish of a race in which the contestants are so close together that the winner must be determined from a photograph taken at the instant of finishing
- photo op
- an occasion that lends itself to (or is deliberately arranged for) taking photographs that provide favorable publicity for those who are photographed
- pileup
- multiple collisions of vehicles
- ping
- a sharp high-pitched resonant sound (as of a sonar echo or a bullet striking metal)
- pitter-patter
- a series of rapid tapping sounds
- pity
- an unfortunate development
- plague
- any large scale calamity (especially when thought to be sent by God)
- plash
- the sound like water splashing
- play
- a weak and tremulous light
- playoff
- any final competition to determine a championship
- Plinian eruption
- a volcanic eruption in which a stream of gas and ash is violently ejected to a height of several miles
- plonk
- the noise of something dropping (as into liquid)
- plop
- the noise of a rounded object dropping into a liquid without a splash
- plump
- the sound of a sudden heavy fall
- plunge
- a steep and rapid fall
- plunk
- a hollow twanging sound
- pole jump
- a competition that involves jumping over a high crossbar with the aid of a long pole
- pollenation
- transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma of a plant
- pop
- a sharp explosive sound as from a gunshot or drawing a cork
- population shift
- a change in the relative numbers of the different groups of individuals making up a population
- posthumous birth
- birth of a child by Caesarean section after the death of the mother
- posthumous birth
- birth of a child after the father has died
- potato race
- a novelty race in which competitors move potatoes from one place to another one at a time
- potlatch
- a ceremonial feast held by some Indians of the northwestern coast of North America (as in celebrating a marriage or a new accession) in which the host gives gifts to tribesmen and others to display his superior wealth (sometimes, formerly, to his own impoverishment)
- pounding
- an instance of rapid strong pulsation (of the heart)
- power failure
- equipment failure resulting when the supply of power fails
- prang
- a crash involving a car or plane
- Preakness
- an annual race for three-year-old horses; held at Pimlico in Baltimore, Maryland
- precipitation
- the act of casting down or falling headlong from a height
- predestination
- previous determination as if by destiny or fate
- prelim
- a minor match preceding the main event
- prize fight
- a boxing match between professional boxers for a cash prize
- producer
- something that produces
- programming error
- error resulting from bad code in some program involved in producing the erroneous result
- prom
- a formal ball held for a school class toward the end of the academic year
- punctuation
- something that makes repeated and regular interruptions or divisions
- puncture
- loss of air pressure in a tire when a hole is made by some sharp object
- purr
- a low vibrating sound typical of a contented cat
- pyrolysis
- transformation of a substance produced by the action of heat
- Pyrrhic victory
- a victory that is won by incurring terrible losses
- quack
- the harsh sound of a duck
- quantum jump
- (physics) an abrupt transition of an electron or atom or molecule from one quantum state to another with the emission or absorption of a quantum
- quantum jump
- a sudden large increase or advance
- quarterfinal
- one of the four competitions in an elimination tournament whose winners go on to play in the semifinals
- quaver
- a tremulous sound
- race
- a contest of speed
- race
- any competition
- race meeting
- a regular occasion on which a number of horse races are held on the same track
- racing start
- the start of a race
- rack
- the destruction or collapse of something
- racket
- a loud and disturbing noise
- radiation
- the spread of a group of organisms into new habitats
- radio noise
- static at radio wavelengths
- rale
- a rapid series of short loud sounds (as might be heard with a stethoscope in some types of respiratory disorders)
- rally
- an automobile race run over public roads
- rap
- a gentle blow
- rapid climb
- a rapid rise
- rarefaction
- a decrease in the density of something
- rat-a-tat
- a series of short sharp taps (as made by strokes on a drum or knocks on a door)
- rave
- a dance party that lasts all night and electronically synthesized music is played
- raw deal
- unfair treatment
- razing
- the event of a structure being completely demolished and leveled
- reality check
- an occasion on which one is reminded of the nature of things in the real world
- reappearance
- the event of something appearing again
- rebirth
- a second or new birth
- recombination
- (genetics) a combining of genes or characters different from what they were in the parents
- recombination
- (physics) a combining of charges or transfer of electrons in a gas that results in the neutralization of ions; important for ions arising from the passage of high-energy particles
- recovery
- return to an original state
- recrudescence
- a return of something after a period of abatement
- rectification
- the conversion of alternating current to direct current
- recurrence
- happening again (especially at regular intervals)
- rededication
- a new dedication
- regatta
- a meeting for boat races
- regurgitation
- backflow of blood through a defective heart valve
- relay
- a race between teams; each member runs or swims part of the distance
- rematch
- something (especially a game) that is played again
- remission
- an abatement in intensity or degree (as in the manifestations of a disease)
- repeat
- an event that repeats
- repechage
- a race (especially in rowing) in which runners-up in the eliminating heats compete for a place in the final race
- report
- a sharp explosive sound (especially the sound of a gun firing)
- resilience
- an occurrence of rebounding or springing back
- resolution
- the subsidence of swelling or other signs of inflammation (especially in a lung)
- Resurrection of Christ
- (New Testament) the rising of Christ on the third day after the Crucifixion
- reversal
- turning in an opposite direction or position
- reversion
- (genetics) a return to a normal phenotype (usually resulting from a second mutation)
- revolution
- a drastic and far-reaching change in ways of thinking and behaving
- rhonchus
- a sound like whistling or snoring that is heard with a stethoscope during expiration as air passes through obstructed channels
- riffle
- a small wave on the surface of a liquid
- ring
- the sound of a bell ringing
- rip current
- a strong surface current flowing outwards from a shore
- ripple
- (electronics) an oscillation of small amplitude imposed on top of a steady value
- rise
- a growth in strength or number or importance
- road to Damascus
- a sudden turning point in a person's life (similar to the sudden conversion of the Apostle Paul on the road from Jerusalem to Damascus of arrest Christians)
- roar
- the sound made by a lion
- rockslide
- a landslide of rocks
- roll
- a long heavy sea wave as it advances towards the shore
- round robin
- a tournament in which every contestant plays every other contestant
- rout
- an overwhelming defeat
- rubber
- a contest consisting of a series of successive matches between the same sides
- ruin
- an event that results in destruction
- runner-up finish
- a finish in second place (as in a race)
- runtime error
- an error in logic or arithmetic that must be detected at run time
- runup
- a substantial increase over a relatively short period of time
- rush
- a sudden burst of activity
- rush
- a sudden forceful flow
- rustle
- a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind
- sack race
- a novelty race in which competitors jump ahead with their feet confined in a sack
- sacrifice
- personnel that are sacrificed (e.g., surrendered or lost in order to gain an objective)
- sailing-race
- a race between crews of people in yachts
- saltation
- (genetics) a mutation that drastically changes the phenotype of an organism or species
- salvo
- an outburst resembling the discharge of firearms or the release of bombs
- samsara
- (Hinduism and Buddhism) the endless cycle of birth and suffering and death and rebirth
- scene
- an incident (real or imaginary)
- schism
- the formal separation of a church into two churches or the withdrawal of one group over doctrinal differences
- scintillation
- a rapid change in brightness; a brief spark or flash
- scrape
- a harsh noise made by scraping
- scratch race
- a race in which all contestants start from scratch (on equal terms)
- scream
- a high-pitched noise resembling a human cry
- scrunch
- a crunching noise
- sea change
- a profound transformation
- sea purse
- the seaward undercurrent created after waves have broken on the shore
- seaquake
- an earthquake at the sea bed
- Second Coming of Christ
- (Christian theology) the reappearance of Jesus as judge for the Last Judgment
- seek
- the movement of a read/write head to a specific data track on a disk
- seiche
- a wave on the surface of a lake or landlocked bay; caused by atmospheric or seismic disturbances
- seismic disturbance
- an instance of agitation of the earth's crust
- self-fertilisation
- fertilization by the union of male and female gametes from the same individual
- self-pollination
- fertilization by transfer of pollen from the anthers to the stigma of the same flower
- selling race
- a horse race in which the winning horse must be put up for auction
- sellout
- an event for which all tickets are sold
- semi
- one of the two competitions in the next to the last round of an elimination tournament
- senate campaign
- a race for election to the senate
- separation
- the termination of employment (by resignation or dismissal)
- sequel
- something that follows something else
- sequella
- a secondary consequence
- sequence
- several repetitions of a melodic phrase in different keys
- series
- (sports) several contests played successively by the same teams
- service break
- a tennis game won on the opponent's service
- set
- the descent of a heavenly body below the horizon
- settling
- a gradual sinking to a lower level
- sex change
- a change in a person's physical sexual characteristics (as by surgery and hormone treatments)
- shakedown
- initial adjustments to improve the functioning or the efficiency and to bring to a more satisfactory state
- sheet lighting
- lightning that appears as a broad sheet; due to reflections of more distant lightning and to diffusion by the clouds
- shift
- a qualitative change
- shimmy
- an abnormal wobble in a motor vehicle (especially in the front wheels)
- shipwreck
- an irretrievable loss
- shipwreck
- an accident that destroys a ship at sea
- shot put
- an athletic competition in which a heavy metal ball is hurled as far as possible
- shrilling
- a continuing shrill noise
- shrinkage
- process or result of becoming less or smaller
- shutout
- a defeat in a game where one side fails to score
- sideshow
- a subordinate incident of little importance relative to the main event
- sideswipe
- a glancing blow from or on the side of something (especially motor vehicles)
- sigh
- a sound like a person sighing
- simple harmonic motion
- periodic motion in which the restoring force is proportional to the displacement
- sine wave
- a wave whose waveform resembles a sine curve
- sinking
- a descent as through liquid (especially through water)
- sinking
- a slow fall or decline (as for lack of strength)
- sizzle
- a sizzling noise
- skeleton
- a scandal that is kept secret
- ski race
- a race between people wearing skis
- skirl
- the sound of (the chanter of) a bagpipe
- sky burial
- a traditional Tibetan funeral ritual in which the corpse is exposed to the open air to be eaten by sacred vultures
- slack tide
- the occurrence of relatively still water at the turn of the (low) tide
- slalom
- a downhill race over a winding course defined by upright poles
- slam
- the noise made by the forceful impact of two objects
- slam
- a forceful impact that makes a loud noise
- slam
- winning all or all but one of the tricks in bridge
- slap
- a blow from a flat object (as an open hand)
- sleepover
- an occasion of spending a night away from home or having a guest spend the night in your home (especially as a party for children)
- slide
- (geology) the descent of a large mass of earth or rocks or snow etc.
- slip
- an accidental misstep threatening (or causing) a fall
- smash
- a serious collision (especially of motor vehicles)
- smolder
- a fire that burns with thick smoke but no flame
- smudge
- a smoky fire to drive away insects
- snap
- the noise produced by the rapid movement of a finger from the tip to the base of the thumb on the same hand
- snap
- a sudden breaking
- snore
- the rattling noise produced when snoring
- social event
- an event characteristic of persons forming groups
- solar eclipse
- the moon interrupts light from the sun
- solitary wave
- (physics) a quantum of energy or quasiparticle that can be propagated as a traveling wave in nonlinear systems and is neither preceded nor followed by another such disturbance; does not obey the superposition principle and does not dissipate
- song
- a distinctive or characteristic sound
- sonic boom
- an explosive sound caused by the shock wave of an airplane traveling faster than the speed of sound
- sound
- the sudden occurrence of an audible event
- sparring match
- a practice or exhibition boxing match
- spatter
- the noise of something spattering or sputtering explosively
- Special Olympics
- an athletic contest modeled after the Olympic Games but intended for mentally or physically handicapped persons
- spelldown
- a contest in which you are eliminated if you fail to spell a word correctly
- spike
- a sharp rise followed by a sharp decline
- spike
- a transient variation in voltage or current
- spin
- a swift whirling motion (usually of a missile)
- splat
- a single splash
- split decision
- a boxing decision in which the judges are not unanimous
- spray
- a jet of vapor
- spread
- process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space
- springtide
- a swelling rush of anything
- springtide
- a greater than average tide occurring during the new and full moons
- spritz
- a quick squirt of some liquid (usually carbonated water)
- squawk
- the noise of squawking
- squeak
- a short high-pitched noise
- squeal
- a high-pitched howl
- squeeze
- a twisting squeeze
- squish
- the noise of soft mud being walked on
- stake race
- a horse race in which part of the prize is put up by the owners of the horses in the race
- stalemate
- drawing position in chess: any of a player's possible moves would place his king in check
- stall
- a malfunction in the flight of an aircraft in which there is a sudden loss of lift that results in a downward plunge
- stampede
- a wild headlong rush of frightened animals (horses or cattle)
- stand
- an interruption of normal activity
- standing wave
- a wave (as a sound wave in a chamber or an electromagnetic wave in a transmission line) in which the ratio of its instantaneous amplitude at one point to that at any other point does not vary with time
- start
- the beginning of anything
- steeplechase
- a horse race over an obstructed course
- steeplechase
- a footrace of usually 3000 meters over a closed track with hurdles and a water jump
- streak
- a sudden flash (as of lightning)
- strengthening
- becoming stronger
- stridulation
- a shrill grating or chirping noise made by some insects by rubbing body parts together
- stroke
- a light touch
- strum
- sound of strumming
- stunner
- an unexpected and amazing event
- sublimation
- (psychology) modifying the natural expression of an impulse or instinct (especially a sexual one) to one that is socially acceptable
- sublimation
- (chemistry) a change directly from the solid to the gaseous state without becoming liquid
- subluxation
- partial displacement of a joint or organ
- success
- an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
- sunrise
- the daily event of the sun rising above the horizon
- sunset
- the daily event of the sun sinking below the horizon
- superfecundation
- fertilization of two or more ova released during the same menstrual cycle by sperm from separate acts of coitus (especially by different males)
- superfetation
- fertilization of a second ovum after a pregnancy has begun; results in two fetuses of different ages in the uterus at the same time
- superior conjunction
- (astronomy) the alignment of the Earth and a planet on the opposite side of the sun
- supervention
- a following on in addition
- surface fire
- a forest fire that burns only the surface litter and undergrowth
- surface noise
- noise produced by the friction of the stylus of a record player moving over the rotating record
- surprise
- a sudden unexpected event
- susurration
- the indistinct sound of people whispering
- swash
- the movement or sound of water
- swerve
- an erratic deflection from an intended course
- swim meet
- a swimming competition between two or more teams
- swimming event
- an athletic competition that involves swimming
- swish
- a brushing or rustling sound
- swoosh
- the noise produced by the sudden rush of a fluid (a gas or liquid)
- syntax error
- an error of language resulting from code that does not conform to the syntax of the programming language
- systole
- the contraction of the chambers of the heart (especially the ventricles) to drive blood into the aorta and pulmonary artery
- takedown
- (amateur wrestling) being brought to the mat from a standing position
- takeoff
- the initial ascent of an airplane as it becomes airborne
- tapping
- the sound of light blow or knock
- taste
- a brief experience of something
- tea party
- a party at which tea is served
- Teapot Dome scandal
- a government scandal involving a former United States Navy oil reserve in Wyoming that was secretly leased to a private oil company in 1921; became symbolic of the scandals of the Harding administration
- tennis match
- a match between tennis players
- thaw
- a relaxation or slackening of tensions or reserve; becoming less hostile
- the Great Starvation
- a famine in Ireland resulting from a potato blight; between 1846 and 1851 a million people starved to death and 1.6 million emigrated (most to America)
- thelarche
- the start of breast development in a woman at the beginning of puberty
- theophany
- a visible (but not necessarily material) manifestation of a deity to a human person
- thing
- an event
- third-place finish
- a finish in third place (as in a race)
- thoroughbred race
- a race between thoroughbred horses
- three-day event
- an equestrian competition; the first day is dressage; the second is cross-country jumping; the third is stadium jumping
- throbbing
- a sound with a strong rhythmic beat
- thrum
- a thrumming sound
- thunder
- a booming or crashing noise caused by air expanding along the path of a bolt of lightning
- thunderclap
- a single sharp crash of thunder
- thunk
- a dull hollow sound
- tick
- a metallic tapping sound
- ticktock
- steady recurrent ticking sound as made by a clock
- tidal current
- the water current caused by the tides
- tidal wave
- a wave resulting from the periodic flow of the tides that is caused by the gravitational attraction of the moon and sun
- tidal wave
- an unusual (and often destructive) rise of water along the seashore caused by a storm or a combination of wind and high tide
- tidal wave
- an overwhelming manifestation of some emotion or phenomenon
- tide
- the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
- tide
- something that may increase or decrease (like the tides of the sea)
- time
- a person's experience on a particular occasion
- tin disease
- the transformation of ordinary white tin into powdery grey tin at very cold temperatures
- ting
- a light clear metallic sound as of a small bell
- toot
- a blast of a horn
- tootle
- the sound of casual playing on a musical instrument
- top dressing
- a layer of fertilizer or manure not plowed in
- topspin
- forward spin (usually of a moving ball) that is imparted by an upward stroke
- torch race
- (ancient Greece) in which a torch is passed from one runner to the next
- torrent
- a violently fast stream of water (or other liquid)
- total eclipse
- an eclipse as seen from a place where the eclipsed body is completely obscured
- touch
- the event of something coming in contact with the body
- Tour de France
- a French bicycle race for professional cyclists that lasts three weeks and covers about 3,000 miles
- tournament
- a series of jousts between knights contesting for a prize
- tournament
- a sporting competition in which contestants play a series of games to decide the winner
- track event
- a footrace performed on a track (indoor or outdoor)
- track meet
- a track and field competition between two or more teams
- train
- a series of consequences wrought by an event
- tramp
- a heavy footfall
- trample
- the sound of heavy treading or stomping
- Transfiguration of Jesus
- (New Testament) the sudden emanation of radiance from the person of Jesus
- transient
- (physics) a short-lived oscillation in a system caused by a sudden change of voltage or current or load
- transition
- a change from one place or state or subject or stage to another
- translation
- a uniform movement without rotation
- transmigration
- the passing of a soul into another body after death
- transmutation
- (physics) the change of one chemical element into another (as by nuclear decay or radioactive bombardment)
- transposition
- (genetics) a kind of mutation in which a chromosomal segment is transfered to a new position on the same or another chromosome
- traveling wave
- a wave in which the medium moves in the direction of propagation of the wave
- treat
- an occurrence that causes special pleasure or delight
- tremolo
- vocal vibrato especially an excessive or poorly controlled one
- trial
- (sports) a preliminary competition to determine qualifications
- trial
- an annoying or frustrating or catastrophic event
- triumph
- a successful ending of a struggle or contest
- trouble
- an event causing distress or pain
- tsunami
- a cataclysm resulting from a destructive sea wave caused by an earthquake or volcanic eruption
- tug-of-war
- a contest in which teams pull of opposite ends of a rope; the team dragged across a central line loses
- turn
- an unforeseen development
- turn
- a movement in a new direction
- twang
- a sharp vibrating sound (as of a plucked string)
- tweet
- a weak chirping sound as of a small bird
- twist
- a jerky pulling movement
- undercurrent
- a current below the surface of a fluid
- undulation
- wavelike motion; a gentle rising and falling in the manner of waves
- undulation
- (physics) a movement up and down or back and forth
- union
- the occurrence of a uniting of separate parts
- unknown quantity
- a factor in a given situation whose bearing and importance is not apparent
- upheaval
- (geology) a rise of land to a higher elevation (as in the process of mountain building)
- uplifting
- the rise of something
- vagary
- an unexpected and inexplicable change in something (in a situation or a person's behavior, etc.)
- vanishing
- a sudden or mysterious disappearance
- vibrato
- (music) a pulsating effect in an instrumental or vocal tone produced by slight and rapid variations in pitch
- vicissitude
- a variation in circumstances or fortune at different times in your life or in the development of something
- vision
- a religious or mystical experience of a supernatural appearance
- visitation
- any disaster or catastrophe
- voice
- a sound suggestive of a vocal utterance
- volution
- a rolling or revolving motion
- vroom
- the roaring sound made by a motor that is running at high speed
- walk-in
- an assured victory (especially in an election)
- wallow
- an indolent or clumsy rolling about
- waning
- a gradual decrease in magnitude or extent
- war cloud
- an ominous sign that war threatens
- warp
- a moral or mental distortion
- water hammer
- the banging sound of steam in pipes
- Watergate scandal
- a political scandal involving abuse of power and bribery and obstruction of justice; led to the resignation of Richard Nixon in 1974
- waterloo
- a final crushing defeat
- wave
- something that rises rapidly
- wave form
- the shape of a wave illustrated graphically by plotting the values of the period quantity against time
- waxing
- a gradual increase in magnitude or extent
- weakening
- becoming weaker
- whack
- the sound made by a sharp swift blow
- whammy
- a serious or devastating setback
- whist drive
- a progressive whist party
- whistle
- the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperture
- white horse
- a wave that is blown by the wind so its crest is broken and appears white
- white noise
- a noise produced by a stimulus containing all of the audible frequencies of vibration
- whitewash
- a defeat in which the losing person or team fails to score
- whiz
- a buzzing or hissing sound as of something traveling rapidly through the air
- wild card
- an unpredictable factor
- wildfire
- a raging and rapidly spreading conflagration
- win
- a victory (as in a race or other competition)
- Winter Olympic Games
- an Olympics for winter sports
- wobble
- an unsteady rocking motion
- Word of God
- a manifestation of the mind and will of God
- World Cup
- a soccer tournament held every four years between national soccer teams to determine a world champion
- World Series
- series that constitutes the playoff for the baseball championship
- worst
- the least favorable outcome
- wrestling match
- a match between wrestlers
- wrongful death
- a death that results from a wrongful act or from negligence; a death that can serve as the basis for a civil action for damages on behalf of the dead person's family or heirs
- XT
- the presence of an unwanted signal via an accidental coupling
- yelp
- a sharp high-pitched cry (especially by a dog)
- Z
- the ending of a series or sequence
- zap
- a sudden event that imparts energy or excitement, usually with a dramatic impact
- zing
- a brief high-pitched buzzing or humming sound
- zizz
- a buzzing or whizzing sound