Definition

1. Noun:
   • The process of a substance separating from a solution as a solid: In chemistry, precipitation is the formation of a solid from a liquid solution.
   • Any form of water that falls to the earth's surface: In meteorology, precipitation refers to rain, snow, sleet, hail, or mist.
   • The fact or quality of acting suddenly or rashly; haste: A formal or literary term for overly quick action, often with a sense of impulsiveness or lack of consideration.
   • The act of throwing someone or something down from a height: An archaic or formal meaning referring to a forceful fall or casting down.

Examples of Usage

• Chemistry:
  • The precipitation of the salt occurred when the solution cooled.
• Meteorology:
  • The weather forecast predicts heavy precipitation tomorrow.
  • Annual precipitation is low in desert regions.
• Haste/Rashness:
  • He later regretted the precipitation with which he had resigned.
• Act of Casting Down (Archaic):
  • The myth describes the precipitation of the Titans from Mount Olympus.

Advanced Usage

• "Precipitation of events": A formal phrase describing a sudden, rapid succession of occurrences.
  • The scandal led to a rapid precipitation of events, culminating in the CEO's resignation.

Variants and Related Words

• Precipitate (verb): To cause (a substance) to be deposited in solid form from a solution; to cause (an event or situation) to happen suddenly or unexpectedly.
  • Adding the acid will precipitate the compound.
  • His remarks precipitated a political crisis.
• Precipitate (adjective): Done with excessive haste and without due deliberation.
  • It was a precipitate decision.
• Precipitous (adjective): Extremely steep; or (often confused with 'precipitate') dangerously high or rapid.
  • A precipitous cliff.
  • A precipitous decline in sales.

Synonyms

• Chemistry: Sedimentation, deposition.
• Meteorology: Rainfall, snowfall, hydrometeor (technical term).
• Haste: Hastiness, rashness, impulsiveness, impetuosity.

Related Phrases

• Acid precipitation: A technical term for rain or other forms of precipitation that is unusually acidic, such as acid rain.
  • Acid precipitation can damage forests and aquatic ecosystems.

Noun

1. overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)
   • he soon regretted his haste
2. an unexpected acceleration or hastening
   • he is responsible for the precipitation of his own demise
3. the act of casting down or falling headlong from a height
4. the falling to earth of any form of water (rain or snow or hail or sleet or mist)
5. the process of forming a chemical precipitate
6. the quantity of water falling to earth at a specific place within a specified period of time
   • the storm brought several inches of precipitation