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Definition of precipitate
precipitated
;precipitating
transitive verb
1a : to throw violently : hurl the quandaries into which the release of nuclear energy has precipitated mankind — A. B. Aronsb : to throw down
2 : to bring about especially abruptly precipitate a scandal that would end with his expulsion — John Cheever
3a : to cause to separate from solution or suspensionb : to cause (vapor) to condense and fall or deposit
intransitive verb
1a : to fall headlongb : to fall or come suddenly into some condition
2 : to move or act with violent or unwise speed
3a : to separate from solution or suspensionb : to condense from a vapor and fall as rain or snow
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Examples of precipitate in a Sentence
When Achilles is informed by his mother, the sea-goddess Thetis, that vanquishing Hector on the battlefield will precipitate his own demise, he unhesitatingly opts for the gusto. —Mark Leyner, Time, 13 Nov. 2000
The vast room darkens. The videotape … begins on two identical screens set high above the nave. The soaring lyrics of LeeAnn Rimes's “How Do I Live (Without You)” precipitate a collective tension and welling, repressed tearfulness. —Jayne Anne Phillips, Harper's, November 1998
Her death precipitated a family crisis.
The budget problem was precipitated by many unexpected costs.
minerals that precipitate from seawater
Recent Examples of precipitate from the Web
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That has precipitated a round of backbiting and second-guessing, and a debate about whether the party’s success...
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What began as as light covering of snow, easily brushed away, became, snowflake by snowflake, a drift, which eventually precipitated an avalanche.
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From the Torah a reverse lesson emerges — miracles are in fact, not enough to precipitate lasting belief.
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Sediment cores showed that the mounds contain layers of methane hydrates and precipitated calcium carbonate, which is produced by the bacteria that break down methane.
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Strickland, who precipitated the brawl by hitting Harper with a pitch in the eighth inning Monday, was suspended for six games.
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The streak's end precipitated one of the most unlikely scenes in Philadelphia sports history.
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The mission, dubbed Desert One, was a complete military and political humiliation and precipitated Vance’s resignation.
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Comey will be asked about encounters that precipitated his firing, including a January dinner in which, Comey has told associates, Trump asked for his loyalty.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'precipitate'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of precipitate
Latin praecipitatus, past participle of praecipitare, from praecipit-, praeceps —see precipice
Definition of precipitate
1 : a substance separated from a solution or suspension by chemical or physical change usually as an insoluble amorphous or crystalline solid
2 : a product, result, or outcome of some process or action
Examples of precipitate in a Sentence
Yet trained, and by nature inclined, to persevere through the stenches, messes, explosions and disasters of a laboratory, he fixed his gaze upon an unlikely precipitate: human resilience, a sort of radioactive trace element. —Richard Eder, New York Times Book Review, 16 June 2002
the exodus from the cities was an unexpected precipitate of the automobile, which effectively shrank distances
the chemist filtered out the precipitate from the solution
Origin and Etymology of precipitate
New Latin praecipitatum, from Latin, neuter of praecipitatus —see 1precipitate
Definition of precipitate
1a : falling, flowing, or rushing with steep descentb : precipitous, steep
2 : exhibiting violent or unwise speed
precipitately
adverbprecipitateness
nounExamples of precipitate in a Sentence
The precipitate decline in support for Aristide has probably less to do with Haiti's political crisis than with the continuous and unrelenting economic battering: the Haitian gourde, which a year ago was trading at 27 to the dollar, by late February was down to 55 to the dollar. —Peter Dailey, New York Review of Books, 27 Mar. 2002
Almost at once I began to remember why drive-ins went into such a precipitate decline. To begin with, it is not remotely comfortable to sit in a car to watch a movie. —Bill Bryson, I'm a Stranger Here Myself, 1999
Assuming that the offering goes ahead—and only a precipitate slide in the stock market will stop it—a big slice of Wall Street history will disappear. —John Cassidy, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 1999
the army's precipitate withdrawal from the field of battle
Did You Know?
Many people, including usage commentators, are insistent about keeping the adjectives "precipitate" and "precipitous" distinct. "Precipitate," they say, means "headlong" or "impetuous"; "precipitous" means only "steep." And, indeed, "precipitate" is used mostly in the "headlong" sense, whereas "precipitous" usually means "steep." But one shouldn't be too hasty about insisting on the distinction. The truth is that "precipitate" and "precipitous" have had a tendency to overlap for centuries. Lexicographer Samuel Johnson, in his dictionary of 1755, defined "precipitate" as "steeply falling," "headlong," and "hasty," while "precipitous" was "headlong; steep," and "hasty." Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary included much the same definitions. The words' etymologies overlap as well. Both ultimately come from Latin praeceps, which means "headlong."
Origin and Etymology of precipitate
see 1precipitate
Synonym Discussion of precipitate
PRECIPITATE Defined for English Language Learners
precipitate
playDefinition of precipitate for English Language Learners
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: to cause (something) to happen quickly or suddenly
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: to become separated from a liquid especially by a chemical process
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: to cause (something solid) to become separated from a liquid especially by a chemical process
precipitate
playDefinition of precipitate for English Language Learners
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: a solid substance that is separated from a liquid especially by a chemical process
precipitate
playDefinition of precipitate for English Language Learners
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: happening very quickly or too quickly without enough thought or planning
PRECIPITATE Defined for Kids
precipitate
playDefinition of precipitate for Students
precipitated
;precipitating
1 : to cause to happen suddenly or unexpectedly The misunderstanding precipitated a quarrel.
2 : to change from a vapor to a liquid or solid and fall as rain or snow
3 : to separate from a solution The procedure called for precipitating salt from seawater.
Medical Dictionary
Medical Definition of precipitate
precipitated
;precipitating
1
transitive verb
: to bring about especially abruptly2a: to cause to separate from solution or suspensionb: to cause (vapor) to condense and fall or deposit
1
intransitive verb
: to fall or come suddenly into some condition2: to separate from solution or suspension
Medical Definition of precipitate
: a substance separated from a solution or suspension by chemical or physical change usually as an insoluble amorphous or crystalline solid
Learn More about precipitate
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See words that rhyme with precipitate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for precipitate Spanish Central: Translation of precipitate Nglish: Translation of precipitate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of precipitate for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about precipitate
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