Precipitate Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

Britannica Dictionary definition of PRECIPITATE

1

[+ object]

formal

:

to cause (something) to happen quickly or suddenly

• Her death precipitated a family crisis.
• The budget problem was precipitated by many unexpected costs.

2

technical

a

[no object]

:

to become separated from a liquid especially by a chemical process

• minerals that precipitate from seawater

b

[+ object]

:

to cause (something solid) to become separated from a liquid especially by a chemical process

• precipitate minerals from seawater

— precipitating

adjective

• precipitating events/factors [=events/factors that cause something to happen]

Britannica Dictionary definition of PRECIPITATE

:

a solid substance that is separated from a liquid especially by a chemical process

Britannica Dictionary definition of PRECIPITATE

[more precipitate; most precipitate]

formal

:

happening very quickly or too quickly without enough thought or planning

• a precipitate [=_precipitous_] attack/decision

• He says the police acted precipitately in making the arrest.