precipitate

[v. pri-sip-i-teyt; adj., n. pri-sip-i-tit, -teyt] /v. prɪˈsɪp ɪˌteɪt; adj., n. prɪˈsɪp ɪ tɪt, -ˌteɪt/
verb (used with object), precipitated, precipitating.
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, especially violently or abruptly:
He precipitated himself into the struggle.
4.
Chemistry. to separate (a substance) in solid form from a solution, as by means of a reagent.
verb (used without object), precipitated, precipitating.
5.
Meteorology. to fall to the earth's surface as a condensed form of water; to rain, snow, hail, drizzle, etc.
6.
to separate from a solution as a precipitate.
7.
to be cast or thrown down headlong.
adjective
8.
headlong:
a precipitate fall down the stairs.
9.
rushing headlong or rapidly onward.
10.
proceeding rapidly or with great haste:
a precipitate retreat.
11.
exceedingly sudden or abrupt:
a precipitate stop; a precipitate decision.
12.
done or made without sufficient deliberation; overhasty; rash:
a precipitate marriage.
noun
13.
Chemistry. a substance precipitated from a solution.
14.
moisture condensed in the form of rain, snow, etc.
Origin
1520-30; (v. and adj.) < Latin praecipitātus (past participle of praecipitāre to cast down headlong), equivalent to praecipit- (stem of praeceps steep; see precipice) + -ātus -ate1; (noun) < Neo-Latin praecipitātum a precipitate, noun use of neuter of praecipitātus
Related forms
precipitately, adverb
precipitateness, noun
precipitative, adjective
precipitator, noun
nonprecipitative, adjective
unprecipitate, adjective
unprecipitately, adverb
unprecipitateness, noun
unprecipitated, adjective
unprecipitative, adjective
unprecipitatively, adverb
Can be confused
precipitate, precipitous.
Synonyms
1. accelerate. 4. crystallize. 12. reckless, impetuous.
Antonyms
1. retard. 12. careful.
Examples from the web for precipitate
  • They attract other chemicals in the water, including dissolved metals, and precipitate them for easy removal.
  • The precipitate is then treated in the refinery to produce pure gold.
  • For one thing, there was no injury to precipitate it.
  • It has also helped precipitate this tanker mess.
  • Failure would probably precipitate an early presidential election.
  • Moisture is carried aloft to thunderstorm height, condenses and forms a cloud cap which may even precipitate.
  • And still the sounds continued, breathlessly renewed with a precipitate rhythm.
  • This cut in public sector will reduce consumption and can precipitate a downward cycle further hitting the public.
  • Prussian blue does not come from Prussia, but is the precipitate of the salt of protoxide of iron with red prussiate of potass.
  • The reason is that cardiovascular disease can precipitate mini-strokes, which can cause dementia.
British Dictionary definitions for precipitate

precipitate

verb (prɪˈsɪpɪˌteɪt)
1.
(transitive) to cause to happen too soon or sooner than expected; bring on
2.
to throw or fall from or as from a height
3.
to cause (moisture) to condense and fall as snow, rain, etc, or (of moisture, rain, etc) to condense and fall thus
4.
(chem) to undergo or cause to undergo a process in which a dissolved substance separates from solution as a fine suspension of solid particles
adjective (prɪˈsɪpɪtɪt)
5.
rushing ahead
6.
done rashly or with undue haste
7.
sudden and brief
noun (prɪˈsɪpɪtɪt)
8.
(chem) a precipitated solid in its suspended form or after settling or filtering
Derived Forms
precipitable, adjective
precipitability, noun
precipitately, adverb
precipitateness, noun
precipitative, adjective
precipitator, noun
Word Origin
C16: from Latin praecipitāre to throw down headlong, from praeceps headlong, steep, from prae before, in front + caput head
Word Origin and History for precipitate
v.

"to hurl or fling down," 1520s, a back formation from precipitation or else from Latin praecipitatus, past participle of praecipitare "to throw or dive headlong," from praeceps "steep, headlong, headfirst" (see precipice). Meaning "to cause to happen, hurry the beginning of" is recorded from 1620s. Chemical sense is from 1620s; meteorological sense first attested 1863. Related: Precipitated; precipitating.

adj.

c.1600, from Latin praecipitatus, past participle of praecipitare "to throw or dive headlong" (see precipitate (v.)). Meaning "hasty" is attested from 1650s. Related: Precipitately.

n.

1560s, probably a back formation from precipitation.

precipitate in Medicine

precipitate pre·cip·i·tate (prĭ-sĭp'ĭ-tāt', -tĭt)
n.

  1. A solid or solid phase separated from a solution.

  2. A punctate opacity on the posterior surface of the cornea developing from inflammatory cells in the vitreous body. Also called punctate keratitis.

v. pre·cip·i·tat·ed, pre·cip·i·tat·ing, pre·cip·i·tates (-tāt')

  1. To cause a solid substance to be separated from a solution.

  2. To be separated from a solution as a solid.

precipitate in Science
precipitate  
Verb  

  1. (prĭ-sĭp'ĭ-tāt')

  2. To fall from the atmosphere as rain, snow, or another form of precipitation.

  3. To separate as a solid from a solution in chemical precipitation.


Noun  

  1. (prĭ-sĭp'ĭ-tāt', -tĭt)

  2. A solid material precipitated from a solution.


precipitate in Culture
precipitate [(pri-sip-uh-tayt, pri-sip-uh-tuht)]

In chemistry, a solid material that is formed in a solution by chemical reactions and settles to the bottom of the container in which the reaction takes place. A precipitate may also be a substance removed from another by an artificial filter.