Dictionary
pre•cip•i•tate
Pronunciation: (
—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.
