precipitate

American  

[pri-sip-i-teyt, pri-sip-i-tit, -teyt] / prɪˈsɪp ɪˌteɪt, prɪˈsɪp ɪ tɪt, -ˌteɪt /

verb (used with object)

precipitated, precipitating

1. to hasten the occurrence of; bring about prematurely, hastily, or suddenly.

   to precipitate an international crisis.

   Synonyms:

   accelerate

   Antonyms:

   retard

2. to cast down headlong; fling or hurl down.

3. to cast, plunge, or send, especially violently or abruptly.

   He precipitated himself into the struggle.

4. Chemistry. to separate (a substance) in solid form from a solution, as by means of a reagent.

   Synonyms:

   crystallize

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verb (used without object)

precipitated, precipitating

1. Meteorology. 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.

adjective

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.

   Synonyms:

   impetuous, reckless

   Antonyms:

   careful

noun

1. Chemistry. a substance precipitated from a solution.

2. moisture condensed in the form of rain, snow, etc.

precipitate British  

verb

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. to cause (moisture) to condense and fall as snow, rain, etc, or (of moisture, rain, etc) to condense and fall thus

4. chem to undergo or cause to undergo a process in which a dissolved substance separates from solution as a fine suspension of solid particles

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adjective

1. rushing ahead

2. done rashly or with undue haste

3. sudden and brief

noun

1. chem a precipitated solid in its suspended form or after settling or filtering

precipitate Scientific  

1. To fall from the atmosphere as rain, snow, or another form of precipitation.

2. To separate as a solid from a solution in chemical precipitation.

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1. A solid material precipitated from a solution.

precipitate Cultural  

1. In chemistry, a solid material that is formed in a solution by chemical reactions and settles to the bottom of the container in which the reaction takes place. A precipitate may also be a substance removed from another by an artificial filter.

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Other Word Forms

• nonprecipitative adjective
• precipitability noun
• precipitable adjective
• precipitately adverb
• precipitateness noun
• precipitative adjective
• precipitator noun
• unprecipitate adjective
• unprecipitately adverb
• unprecipitateness noun
• unprecipitative adjective
• unprecipitatively adverb

Etymology

Origin of precipitate

First recorded in 1520–30; the verb and adjective derive from Latin praecipitātus (past participle of praecipitāre “to cast down headlong”), equivalent to praecipit- (stem of praeceps “steep”; precipice ) + -ātus past participle suffix ( -ate ¹ ); the noun comes from New Latin praecipitātum “a precipitate,” noun use of neuter of praecipitātus

Example Sentences

On 4 December, 2024, Yoon announced to the nation that he was declaring martial law – plunging South Korea into chaos and setting in motion a series of events that would precipitate his downfall.

From BBC

A new crisis, however, quickly put an end to exchanges, precipitating the mass incarceration of prisoners that marked the last two years of the war.

From The Wall Street Journal

This reaction produced a solid precipitate that gradually expanded until it completely blocked the opening.

From Science Daily

Sicily precipitated the eventual collision between Carthage and Rome.

From The Wall Street Journal

That’s an omission bank industry groups saw as a loophole, precipitating the current fight over the Clarity Act.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• accelerate
• expedite
• hasten
• trigger