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precipitate

Translate precipitate | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of precipitate

verb

Pronunciation: /prɪˈsɪpɪteɪt/
[with object]
  • 1cause (an event or situation, typically one that is undesirable) to happen suddenly, unexpectedly, or prematurely:the incident precipitated a political crisis
  • [with object and adverbial of direction] cause to move suddenly and with force:suddenly the ladder broke, precipitating them down into a heap
  • (precipitate someone/thing into) send someone or something suddenly into a particular state or condition:they were precipitated into a conflict for which they were quite unprepared
  • 2 Chemistry cause (a substance) to be deposited in solid form from a solution: cell proteins were then precipitated and washed in 10% trichloroacetic acid
  • cause (drops of moisture or particles of dust) to be deposited from the atmosphere or from a vapour or suspension: excess moisture is precipitated as rain, fog, mist, or dew

adjective

Pronunciation: /prɪˈsɪpɪtət/
  • done, made, or acting suddenly or without careful consideration:I must apologize for my staff—their actions were precipitate
  • occurring suddenly or abruptly:a precipitate decline in Labour fortunes

noun

Chemistry
  • a substance precipitated from a solution.

Derivatives

precipitable

adjective

precipitately

Pronunciation: /prɪˈsɪpɪtətli/
adverb

precipitateness

noun

Origin:

early 16th century: from Latin praecipitat- 'thrown headlong', from the verb praecipitare, from praeceps, praecip(it)- 'headlong', from prae 'before' + caput 'head'. The original sense of the verb was 'hurl down, send violently'; hence 'cause to move rapidly', which gave rise to sense 1 (early 17th century)

precipitate in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of precipitate in the US English dictionary
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