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 verb 1 a : to throw violently : hurl <the quandaries into which the release of nuclear energy has precipitated mankind — A. B. Arons> b : to throw down
2 : 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 verb 1 a : to fall headlong b : to fall or come suddenly into some condition
2 : to move or act precipitately
3 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