precipitate
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Related to precipitate: precipitate delivery
precipitate
hasten the occurrence of; to cast, plunge, or send violently; accelerate: precipitate a fight
Not to be confused with:
precipitant – falling headlong; rushing hastily onward; unduly sudden: precipitant decision
precipitous – extremely steep; abrupt, sheer: a precipitous slope
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
pre·cip·i·tate
(prĭ-sĭp′ĭ-tāt′)v. pre·cip·i·tat·ed, pre·cip·i·tat·ing, pre·cip·i·tates
v.tr.
1. To cause to happen, especially suddenly or prematurely: an announcement that precipitated a political crisis.
2. To cause to fall down from a height; hurl downward: "The finest bridge in all Peru broke and precipitated five travelers into the gulf below" (Thornton Wilder).
3. To put suddenly into a certain state or condition: "He was like a man who had never known liberty and was all at once precipitated into it" (Taylor Caldwell).
4. Meteorology To cause (a form of water, as rain or snow) to fall from the air.
5. Chemistry To cause (a solid substance) to be separated from a solution.
v.intr.
1. Meteorology To fall from the air as a form of water, such as rain or snow.
2. Chemistry To be separated from a solution as a solid.
adj. (-tĭt)
1. Moving rapidly and heedlessly; speeding headlong.
2. Acting with or marked by excessive haste and lack of due deliberation. See Synonyms at impetuous.
3. Occurring suddenly or unexpectedly.
n. (-tāt′, -tĭt)
1. Chemistry A solid or solid phase separated from a solution.
2. A product resulting from a process, event, or course of action.
[Latin praecipitāre, praecipitāt-, to throw headlong, from praeceps, praecipit-, headlong : prae-, pre- + caput, capit-, head; see kaput- in Indo-European roots.]
pre·cip′i·tate·ly (-tĭt-lē) adv.
pre·cip′i·tate·ness n.
pre·cip′i·ta′tive adj.
pre·cip′i·ta′tor n.
Usage Note: The adjective precipitate and the adverb precipitately were once applied to physical steepness but are now used primarily of rash, headlong actions: Their precipitate entry into the foreign markets led to disaster. He withdrew precipitately from the race. Precipitous currently means "steep" in both literal and figurative senses: the precipitous rapids of the upper river; a precipitous drop in commodity prices. But precipitous and precipitously are also frequently used to mean "abrupt, hasty," which takes them into territory that would ordinarily belong to precipitate and precipitately: their precipitous decision to leave. Many people object to this usage out of a desire to keep precipitate and precipitous distinct, but the extension of meaning from "steep" to "abrupt" is perfectly natural. After all a precipitous increase in reports of measles is also an abrupt or sudden event. In fact, a majority of the Usage Panel now accepts this usage. In our 2004 survey, 65 percent accepted the sentence Pressure to marry may cause precipitous decision-making that is not grounded in the reality of who you are and what you want from life.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
precipitate
vb
1. (tr) to cause to happen too soon or sooner than expected; bring on
2. to throw or fall from or as from a height
3. (Physical Geography) to cause (moisture) to condense and fall as snow, rain, etc, or (of moisture, rain, etc) to condense and fall thus
4. (Chemistry) chem to undergo or cause to undergo a process in which a dissolved substance separates from solution as a fine suspension of solid particles
adj
5. rushing ahead
6. done rashly or with undue haste
7. sudden and brief
n
(Chemistry) chem a precipitated solid in its suspended form or after settling or filtering
[C16: from Latin praecipitāre to throw down headlong, from praeceps headlong, steep, from prae before, in front + caput head]
preˈcipitable adj
preˌcipitaˈbility n
preˈcipitately adv
preˈcipitateness n
preˈcipitative adj
preˈcipiˌtator n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
pre•cip•i•tate
(v. prɪˈsɪp ɪˌteɪt; adj., n. -tɪt, -ˌteɪt)v. -tat•ed, -tat•ing,
adj., n. v.t.
1. to hasten the occurrence of; bring about prematurely or suddenly: to precipitate a crisis.
2. to fling or hurl down.
3. to cast violently or abruptly: to precipitate oneself into a struggle.
4. to separate (a substance) in solid form from a solution, as by means of a reagent.
v.i. 5. to fall to the earth's surface as a condensed form of water; to rain, snow, hail, drizzle, etc.
6. to separate from a solution as a precipitate.
7. to be cast down headlong.
adj. 8. done or made without sufficient deliberation; overhasty; rash: a precipitate marriage.
9. rushing or falling headlong.
10. proceeding rapidly or with great haste: a precipitate retreat.
11. exceedingly sudden or abrupt.
n. 12. a substance precipitated from a solution.
13. moisture condensed in the form of rain, snow, etc.
[1520–30; < Latin praecipitātus, past participle of praecipitāre to hurl down, cause to fall, v. derivative of praeceps, s. praecipit- (see precipice, -ate1)]
pre•cip′i•tate•ly, adv.
pre•cip′i•tate•ness, n.
pre•cip′i•ta`tive, adj.
pre•cip′i•ta`tor, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
pre·cip·i·tate
(prĭ-sĭp′ĭ-tāt′)Verb
1. To cause water vapor to condense from the atmosphere and fall as rain or snow.
2. To separate chemically from a solution in the form of a solid.
Noun
A solid material separated from a solution by chemical means: an insoluble precipitate.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
See also related terms for hasty.
precipitate
, precipitation - Precipitate is from Latin praecipitare, "to throw or drive headlong"; precipitation first meant the action of falling or throwing down.See also related terms for throwing.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
precipitate
Past participle: precipitated
Gerund: precipitating
| Imperative |
|---|
| precipitate |
| precipitate |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
precipitate
An insoluble substance formed by a chemical reaction.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  precipitate - a precipitated solid substance in suspension or after settling or filteringsludge - the precipitate produced by sewage treatment solid - matter that is solid at room temperature and pressure |
| Verb | 1. | precipitate - bring about abruptly; "The crisis precipitated by Russia's revolution" |
| 2. | precipitate - separate as a fine suspension of solid particles change state, turn - undergo a transformation or a change of position or action; "We turned from Socialism to Capitalism"; "The people turned against the President when he stole the election" | |
| 3. | precipitate - fall from clouds; "rain, snow and sleet were falling"; "Vesuvius precipitated its fiery, destructive rage on Herculaneum" fall - descend in free fall under the influence of gravity; "The branch fell from the tree"; "The unfortunate hiker fell into a crevasse" spat - come down like raindrops; "Bullets were spatting down on us" snow - fall as snow; "It was snowing all night" hail - precipitate as small ice particles; "It hailed for an hour" sleet - precipitate as a mixture of rain and snow; "If the temperature rises above freezing, it will probably sleet" | |
| 4. | precipitate - fall vertically, sharply, or headlong; "Our economy precipitated into complete ruin" | |
| 5. | precipitate - hurl or throw violently; "The bridge broke and precipitated the train into the river below" | |
| Adj. | 1. | precipitate - done with very great haste and without due deliberation; "hasty marriage seldom proveth well"- Shakespeare; "hasty makeshifts take the place of planning"- Arthur Geddes; "rejected what was regarded as an overhasty plan for reconversion"; "wondered whether they had been rather precipitate in deposing the king" hurried - moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste; "a hurried trip to the store"; "the hurried life of a city"; "a hurried job" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
precipitate
verb
adjective
1. hasty, hurried, frantic, rash, reckless, impulsive, madcap, ill-advised, precipitous, impetuous, indiscreet, heedless, harum-scarum I don't think we should make any precipitate decisions.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
precipitate
verbTo put down, especially in layers, by a natural process:
1. Characterized by unthinking boldness and haste:
2. Happening quickly and without warning:
1. Matter that settles on a bottom or collects on a surface by a natural process:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
مادّة مُتَرَسِّبَه
sraženinausazenina
bundfald
äkkijyrkkähätäinenjouduttaakiihdyttääkiirehtiä
botnfall
kritulių kiekis
nogulsnes
precipitate
A. [prɪˈsɪpɪtɪt] ADJ → precipitado, apresurado
B. [prɪˈsɪpɪteɪt] VT
1. (= bring on) → precipitar, provocar
an illness precipitated by stress → una enfermedad provocada por el estrés
the decision precipitated her resignation → la decisión precipitó su dimisión
an illness precipitated by stress → una enfermedad provocada por el estrés
the decision precipitated her resignation → la decisión precipitó su dimisión
2. (= hurl) → lanzar
the civil war precipitated the country into chaos → la guerra civil sumió al país en el caos
the civil war precipitated the country into chaos → la guerra civil sumió al país en el caos
3. (Chem) → precipitar (Met) → condensar
D. [prɪˈsɪpɪtɪt] N (Chem) → precipitado m
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
precipitate
[prɪˈsɪpɪtət] adj (= hasty) → précipité(e)
[prɪˈsɪpɪteɪt] vt [+ crisis, disaster] → précipiter
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
precipitate
n (Met) → Niederschlag m; (Chem also) → Präzipitat nt (spec)
vt
(= hasten) → beschleunigen
(Chem) → (aus)fällen; (Met) → niederschlagen
vi (Chem) → ausfallen; (Met) → sich niederschlagen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
precipitate
[adj, n prɪˈsɪpɪtɪt; vb prɪˈsɪpɪteɪt]1. adj (hasty) → precipitoso/a, affrettato/a
2. n (Chem) → precipitato
3. vt
a. (bring on, crisis) → accelerare
b. (Chem) → precipitare (Met) → far condensare
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
precipitate
(priˈsipiteit) noun the substance that settles at the bottom of a liquid.
precipitation noun the amount of rain or snow that falls on the ground.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
pre·cip·i·tate
n. precipitado, depósito de partes sólidas que se asientan en una solución;
a. precipitado-a, que sucede con rapidez.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012