Dictionary  pre•cip•i•tatePronunciation: ( —v.pri-sip'i-tāt"; —adj., n.pri-sip'i-tit, -tāt"), [key] —v., -tat•ed, -tat•ing, —adj., n. —v.t. 1. to hasten the occurrence of; bring about prematurely, hastily, or suddenly: to precipitate an international crisis. 2. to cast down headlong; fling or hurl down. 3. to cast, plunge, or send, esp. violently or abruptly: He precipitated himself into the struggle. 4. Chem.to separate (a substance) in solid form from a solution, as by means of a reagent. —v.i. 1. Meteorol.to fall to the earth's surface as a condensed form of water; to rain, snow, hail, drizzle, etc. 2. to separate from a solution as a precipitate. 3. to be cast or thrown down headlong. —adj. 1. headlong: a precipitate fall down the stairs. 2. rushing headlong or rapidly onward. 3. proceeding rapidly or with great haste: a precipitate retreat. 4. exceedingly sudden or abrupt: a precipitate stop; a precipitate decision. 5. done or made without sufficient deliberation; overhasty; rash: a precipitate marriage. —n. 1. Chem.a substance precipitated from a solution. 2. moisture condensed in the form of rain, snow, etc. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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