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Webster 1913 Edition


Precipitation

Pre-cipˊi-ta′tion

,
Noun.
[L.
praecipitatio
: cf. F.
précipitation
.]
1.
The act of precipitating, or the state of being precipitated, or thrown headlong.
In peril of
precipitation

From off rock Tarpeian.
Shakespeare
2.
A falling, flowing, or rushing downward with violence and rapidity.
The hurry,
precipitation
, and rapid motion of the water, returning . . . towards the sea.
Woodward.
3.
Great hurry; rash, tumultuous haste; impetuosity.
“The precipitation of inexperience.”
Rambler.
4.
(Chem.)
The act or process of precipitating from a solution.

Webster 1828 Edition


Precipitation

PRECIPITA'TION

,
Noun.
[L. proecipitatio.]
1.
The act of throwing headlong.
2.
A falling, flowing or rushing down with violence and rapidity.
The hurry, precipitation and rapid motion of the water.
3.
Great hurry; rash, tumultuous haste; rapid movement.
The precipitation of inexperience is often restrained by shame.
4.
The act or operation of throwing to the bottom of a vessel any substance held in solution by its menstruum. Precipitation is often effected by a double elective attraction.

Definition 2024


precipitation

precipitation

See also: précipitation

English

Noun

precipitation (countable and uncountable, plural precipitations)

  1. (meteorology) Any or all of the forms of water particles, whether liquid or solid, that fall from the atmosphere (e.g., rain, hail, snow or sleet). It is a major class of hydrometeor, but it is distinguished from cloud, fog, dew, rime, frost, etc., in that it must fall. It is distinguished from cloud and virga in that it must reach the ground.
  2. A hurried headlong fall.
  3. (countable, chemistry) A reaction that leads to the formation of a heavier solid in a lighter liquid; the precipitate so formed at the bottom of the container.
  4. (figuratively) Unwise or rash rapidity; sudden haste.
    • 1859, Charles Dickens, The Haunted House
      The young man thanked me, and took his leave with some little precipitation, after declining a glass of liquor.
    • Dorothy Sayers
      [] had acted with some precipitation and had probably started out upon a wild-goose chase.

Synonyms

  • See also Wikisaurus:hydrometeor

Translations

Derived terms

See also