precipitate

[ verb pri-sip-i-teyt; adjective noun pri-sip-i-tit, -teyt ]

verb (used with object)

, pre·cip·i·tat·ed, pre·cip·i·tat·ing.

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

verb (used without object)

, pre·cip·i·tat·ed, pre·cip·i·tat·ing.

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

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

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

Verb

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.

Noun

1. A solid material precipitated from a solution.

precipitate

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.

Derived Forms

• preˈcipiˌtator, noun
• preˈcipitable, adjective
• preˈcipitative, adjective
• preˈcipitately, adverb
• preˌcipitaˈbility, noun
• preˈcipitateness, noun

Other Words From

• pre·cip·i·tate·ly adverb
• pre·cip·i·tate·ness noun
• pre·cip·i·ta·tive adjective
• pre·cip·i·ta·tor noun
• non·pre·cip·i·ta·tive adjective
• un·pre·cip·i·tate adjective
• un·pre·cip·i·tate·ly adverb
• un·pre·cip·i·tate·ness noun
• un·pre·cip·i·ta·tive adjective
• un·pre·cip·i·ta·tive·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of precipitate¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of precipitate¹

C16: from Latin praecipitāre to throw down headlong, from praeceps headlong, steep, from prae before, in front + caput head

Example Sentences

In turn, he said, that “can precipitate depressive episodes in such individuals.”

From Los Angeles Times

It could precipitate regional hostilities pitting Israel and the United States on one side against Iran and its network of allied militias in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen on the other.

From Los Angeles Times

Over the past 11 months, Hezbollah and Israeli forces exchanged fire almost daily across the Israel-Lebanon border, but until Israel’s attacks last week, Hezbollah had avoided the kind of large-scale response that would precipitate an all-out war.

From Los Angeles Times

Observers say the power struggle between Indonesia's parliament - which is dominated by supporters of Mr Widodo - and the country's constitutional court could precipitate a political crisis.

From BBC

The SEC was established by Congress in the 1930s, in the midst of the Great Depression, to prevent the type of market manipulation and financial fraud that could help precipitate future depressions.

From Slate

Related Words

• accelerate
• expedite
• hasten
• trigger