precipitation

[pri-sip-i-tey-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of precipitating; state of being precipitated.

2. a casting down or falling headlong.

3. a hastening or hurrying in movement, procedure, or action.

4. sudden haste.

5. unwise or rash rapidity.

6. Meteorology.

   1. falling products of condensation in the atmosphere, as rain, snow, or hail.

   2. the amount of rain, snow, hail, etc., that has fallen at a given place within a given period, usually expressed in inches or centimeters of water.

7. Chemistry, Physics.,  the precipitating of a substance from a solution.

precipitation

/ prɪˌsɪpɪˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. meteorol

   1. rain, snow, sleet, dew, etc, formed by condensation of water vapour in the atmosphere

   2. the deposition of these on the earth's surface

   3. the amount precipitated

2. the production or formation of a chemical precipitate

3. the act of precipitating or the state of being precipitated

4. rash or undue haste

5. spiritualism the appearance of a spirit in bodily form; materialization

precipitation

1. A form of water, such as rain, snow, or sleet, that condenses from the atmosphere, becomes too heavy to remain suspended, and falls to the Earth's surface. Different atmospheric conditions are responsible for the different forms of precipitation.

2. The process by which a substance is separated out of a solution as a solid. Precipitation occurs either by the action of gravity or through a chemical reaction that forms an insoluble compound out of two or more soluble compounds.

precipitation

1. In meteorology, the fall of water, ice, or snow deposited on the surface of the Earth from the atmosphere. In chemistry, a chemical reaction in a solution in which a solid material is formed and subsequently falls, as a precipitate, to the bottom of the container.

Other Word Forms

• nonprecipitation noun
• self-precipitation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of precipitation¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Latin praecipitātiōn-, stem of praecipitātiō “a casting down headlong,” equivalent to praecipitāt(us) “cast down headlong” (past participle of praecipitāre precipitate ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

The probability of precipitation is most likely on Tuesday and Wednesday, occurring mostly east and north of L.A.

From Los Angeles Times

While some mountain and desert areas have seen recent precipitation from monsoonal storms, downtown Los Angeles hasn’t had any measurable rainfall since early May, according to the National Weather Service.

From Los Angeles Times

But they noted that the federal government’s latest seasonal forecast says the Southwest will probably have above-average temperatures and below-average precipitation over the next several months.

From Los Angeles Times

There were concerns about the weather before the second T20 but instead of the anticipated precipitation, it was raining boundaries in Manchester.

From BBC

In the Bay Area and Northern California, the cold front is bringing with it a chance for light rain and thunderstorms, which has the potential to alleviate some wildfire risk, depending on precipitation totals.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• drizzle 
• rain 
• rainfall 
• rainstorm 
• sleet 
• snow 
• storm