precipitate: Meaning and Definition of

pre•cip•i•tate

Pronunciation: (v.pri-sip'i-tāt"adj., n.pri-sip'i-tit, -tāt"), [key]
— v., adj., n. -tat•ed, -tat•ing,
—v.t.
  1. to hasten the occurrence of; bring about prematurely, hastily, or suddenly: to precipitate an international crisis.
  2. to cast down headlong; fling or hurl down.
  3. to cast, plunge, or send, esp. violently or abruptly: He precipitated himself into the struggle.
  4. to separate (a substance) in solid form from a solution, as by means of a reagent.
—v.i.
  1. to fall to the earth's surface as a condensed form of water; to rain, snow, hail, drizzle, etc.
  2. to separate from a solution as a precipitate.
  3. to be cast or thrown down headlong.
—adj.
  1. headlong: a precipitate fall down the stairs.
  2. rushing headlong or rapidly onward.
  3. proceeding rapidly or with great haste: a precipitate retreat.
  4. exceedingly sudden or abrupt: a precipitate stop; a precipitate decision.
  5. done or made without sufficient deliberation; overhasty; rash: a precipitate marriage.
—n.
  1. a substance precipitated from a solution.
  2. moisture condensed in the form of rain, snow, etc.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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