v.
/
prɪˈsɪpɪteɪt/
- cause (an undesirable event) to happen unexpectedly or prematurely.
- cause to move suddenly and with force.
▸
(precipitate someone/thing into)
send someone or something without warning into a particular state or condition.
- Chemistry cause (a substance) to be deposited in solid form from a solution.
▸cause (drops of moisture or particles of dust) to be deposited from the atmosphere or from a vapour or suspension.
adj.
/
prɪˈsɪpɪtət/
done, acting, or occurring suddenly or without careful consideration.
n.
/
prɪˈsɪpɪtət,
-teɪt/
Chemistry a substance precipitated from a solution.
Derivative
- precipitable adj.
- precipitately adv.
- precipitateness n.
- precipitator n.
Etymology
C16 (orig. ‘hurl down, send violently’, later ‘cause to move rapidly’): from L. praecipitat-, praecipitare ‘throw headlong’, from praeceps, praecip(it)- ‘headlong’, from prae ‘before’ + caput ‘head’.
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