First Known Use: 1528
Dictionary
1precipitate
verb pre·cip·i·tate \pri-ˈsi-pə-ˌtāt\
: to cause (something) to happen quickly or suddenly
: to become separated from a liquid especially by a chemical process
: to cause (something solid) to become separated from a liquid especially by a chemical process
pre·cip·i·tat·edpre·cip·i·tat·ing
Full Definition of PRECIPITATE
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 deposit
intransitive verb
1
a : to fall headlong b : to fall or come suddenly into some condition
2
: to move or act with violent or unwise speed
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
See precipitate defined for English-language learners
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Examples of PRECIPITATE
- 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
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Origin of PRECIPITATE
Latin praecipitatus, past participle of praecipitare, from praecipit-, praeceps (see precipice)
Rhymes with PRECIPITATE
abbreviate, abominate, accelerate, accentuate, accommodate, acculturate, accumulate, adjudicate, adulterate, affiliate, agglomerate, alienate, alleviate, alliterate, amalgamate, ameliorate, amyl nitrate, annihilate, annunciate, anticipate, apostolate, appreciate, appropriate, approximate, arpeggiate, articulate, asphyxiate, assassinate, asseverate, assimilate, associate, at any rate, attenuate, authenticate, barbiturate, bicarbonate, calumniate, capacitate, capitulate, catholicate, certificate, coagulate, coelenterate, collaborate, commemorate, commiserate, communicate, compassionate, concatenate, conciliate, confabulate, confederate, conglomerate, congratulate, consolidate, contaminate, cooperate, coordinate, corroborate, deactivate, debilitate, decapitate, decelerate, decerebrate, deconcentrate, deconsecrate, decorticate, decrepitate, de-escalate, defibrinate, defoliate, degenerate, deliberate, delineate, demodulate, denominate, depopulate, depreciate, deracinate, deregulate, desegregate, desiderate, detoxicate, devaluate, diaconate, dilapidate, discriminate, disintegrate, disseminate, dissimulate, dissociate, domesticate, effectuate, ejaculate, elaborate, electroplate, eliminate, elucidate, emaciate, emancipate, emasculate, encapsulate, enumerate, enunciate, episcopate, equivocate, eradicate, etiolate, evacuate, evaluate, evaporate, eventuate, eviscerate, exacerbate, exaggerate, exasperate, excited state, excogitate, excoriate, exfoliate, exhilarate, exonerate, expatiate, expatriate, expectorate, expostulate, expropriate, extenuate, exterminate, extrapolate, facilitate, felicitate, fish or cut bait, garrison state, gesticulate, habilitate, habituate, hallucinate, humiliate, hydrogenate, hypothecate, illuminate, impersonate, inactivate, inaugurate, incarcerate, incinerate, incorporate, incriminate, indoctrinate, inebriate, infatuate, infuriate, ingratiate, ingurgitate, initiate, inoculate, inseminate, insinuate, instantiate, intercalate, interpolate, interrelate, interrogate, intimidate, intoxicate, invalidate, investigate, invigorate, irradiate, Italianate, Korea Strait, lanceolate, legitimate, luxuriate, mandarinate, manipulate, matriarchate, matriculate, Merthiolate, necessitate, negotiate, noncandidate, obliterate, officiate, Orange Free State, orientate, originate, oxygenate, participate, particulate, patriarchate, patriciate, perambulate, peregrinate, perpetuate, pontificate, predestinate, predominate, prefabricate, premeditate, preponderate, prevaricate, procrastinate, prognosticate, proliferate, propitiate, proportionate, quadruplicate, quintuplicate, reciprocate, recriminate, recuperate, redecorate, reduplicate, reeducate, refrigerate, regenerate, regurgitate, reincarnate, reintegrate, reiterate, rejuvenate, remunerate, repatriate, repudiate, resuscitate, retaliate, reticulate, revaluate, reverberate, scholasticate, second estate, self-flagellate, self-immolate, self-pollinate, seventy-eight, sextuplicate, Singapore Strait, sophisticate, subordinate, substantiate, syllabicate, tergiversate, transliterate, triangulate, vanity plate, variegate, vaticinate, vituperate, vociferate
2precipitate
noun pre·cip·i·tate \pri-ˈsi-pə-tət, -ˌtāt\
: a solid substance that is separated from a liquid especially by a chemical process
Full 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
See precipitate defined for English-language learners
Examples of PRECIPITATE
- 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
Origin of PRECIPITATE
New Latin praecipitatum, from Latin, neuter of praecipitatus (see 1precipitate)
First Known Use: 1594
Related to PRECIPITATE
- Synonyms
- aftereffect, aftermath, backwash, child, conclusion, consequence, corollary, development, fate, fruit, issue, outcome, outgrowth, effect, product, result, resultant, sequel, sequence, upshot
- Antonyms
- antecedent, causation, cause, occasion, reason
3precipitate
adjective pre·cip·i·tate \pri-ˈsi-pə-tət\
: happening very quickly or too quickly without enough thought or planning
Full Definition of PRECIPITATE
1
a : falling, flowing, or rushing with steep descent b : precipitous, steep
2
: exhibiting violent or unwise speed
— pre·cip·i·tate·ly adverb
— pre·cip·i·tate·ness noun
See precipitate defined for English-language learners
Examples of PRECIPITATE
- 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
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Origin of PRECIPITATE
(see 2precipitate)
First Known Use: 1615
Related to PRECIPITATE
Synonym Discussion of PRECIPITATE
precipitate, headlong, abrupt, impetuous, sudden mean showing undue haste or unexpectedness. precipitate stresses lack of due deliberation and implies prematureness of action <the army's precipitate withdrawal>. headlong stresses rashness and lack of forethought <a headlong flight from arrest>. abrupt stresses curtness and a lack of warning or ceremony <an abrupt refusal>. impetuous stresses extreme impatience or impulsiveness <an impetuous lover proposing marriage>. sudden stresses unexpectedness and sharpness or violence of action <flew into a sudden rage>.
PRECIPITATENESS Defined for Kids
precipitate
verb pre·cip·i·tate \pri-ˈsi-pə-ˌtāt\
pre·cip·i·tat·edpre·cip·i·tat·ing
Definition of PRECIPITATE for Kids
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.>
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