Main Entry:

¹pre·cip·i·tate

Pronunciation:

\pri-ˈsi-pə-ˌtāt\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

pre·cip·i·tat·ed; pre·cip·i·tat·ing

Etymology:

Latin praecipitatus, past participle of praecipitare, from praecipit-, praeceps

Date:

1528

transitive verb1 a: to throw violently : hurl <the quandaries into which the release of nuclear energy has precipitated mankind — A. B. Arons> b: to throw down2: to bring about especially abruptly <precipitate a scandal that would end with his expulsion — John Cheever>3 a: to cause to separate from solution or suspension b: to cause (vapor) to condense and fall or depositintransitive verb1 a: to fall headlong b: to fall or come suddenly into some condition2: to move or act precipitately3 a: to separate from solution or suspension b: to condense from a vapor and fall as rain or snow

— pre·cip·i·ta·tive \-ˌtā-tiv\ adjective

— pre·cip·i·ta·tor \-ˌtā-tər\ noun