precession

noun

pre·​ces·​sion prē-ˈse-shən 

: a comparatively slow gyration of the rotation axis of a spinning body about another line intersecting it so as to describe a cone

precessional

prē-ˈsesh-nəl 

-ˈse-shə-nᵊl

adjective

Examples of precession in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The irregular patterns may also be caused by the slow, wobbly motion of the protostar's jet over time, a phenomenon known as precession. —Victoria Corless, Space.com, 24 Mar. 2025

Because of the wobble in the Earth’s axis, called precession, the constellation Aries is no longer in the background during the equinox. —Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 16 Mar. 2025

The key players in these cycles are Earth's obliquity, the precession of its rotational axis and the shape of Earth's orbit around the sun. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2025

This is complicated in the long run by a wobble in Earth’s rotation called precession, which is caused by the gravitational tugging of the moon and sun. —Phil Plait, Scientific American, 3 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin praecession-, praecessio, from Medieval Latin, act of preceding, from Latin praecedere to precede

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing precession

• precession of the equinoxes

Rhymes for precession

• accession
• aggression
• compression
• concession
• confession
• depression
• digression
• discretion
• expression
• impression
• obsession
• oppression

Kids Definition

precession

noun

pre·​ces·​sion prē-ˈsesh-ən 

: a comparatively slow circling of the rotation axis of a spinning body about another line intersecting it

precess

prē-ˈses

ˈprē-ˌses

verb