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pre·ces·sion noun : a slow gyration of the rotation axis of a spinning body (as the earth)

— pre·cess verb

— pre·ces·sion·al adjective

pre·cinct noun 1 : an administrative subdivision (as of a city) : DISTRICT

2 : an enclosure bounded by the limits of a building or place — often used in pl.

3 plural : ENVIRONS

pre·ci·os·i·ty noun, plural -ties : fastidious refinement

pre·cious adjective 1 : of great value <~ jewels>

2 : greatly cherished : DEAR <~ memories>

3 : AFFECTED <~ language>

Synonyms

[1] costly, dear, expensive, high, valuable—more at COSTLY

[2] beloved, darling, dear, favorite, loved, pet, special, sweet

[2] adorable, darling, dear, endearing, lovable, sweet, winning—more at LOVABLE

prec·i·pice noun : a steep cliff

Synonyms

bluff, cliff, crag, escarpment, palisade, scarp—more at CLIFF

pre·cip·i·tan·cy noun : undue hastiness or suddenness

1precipitate verb -tat·ed; -tat·ing [ORIGIN: L praecipitare, fr. praecipit-, praeceps headlong, fr. prae in front of + caput head]

1 : to throw violently

2 : to throw down

3 : to cause to happen quickly or abruptly <~ a quarrel>

4 : to cause to separate from solution or suspension

5 : to fall as rain, snow, or hail

2precipitate noun : the solid matter that separates from a solution or suspension

Synonyms

deposit, dregs, grounds, sediment—more at DEPOSIT

3precipitate adjective 1 : showing extreme or unwise haste : RASH

2 : falling with steep descent; also : PRECIPITOUS

— pre·cip·i·tate·ness noun

Synonyms

cursory, hasty, headlong, pell-mell, precipitous, rash—more at HASTY

pre·cip·i·tate·ly adverb : in a precipitate manner

Synonyms

cursorily, hastily, headlong, hurriedly, pell-mell, rashly—more at HASTILY

pre·cip·i·ta·tion noun 1 : rash haste

2 : the process of precipitating or forming a precipitate

3 : water that falls to earth esp. as rain or snow; also : the quantity of this water

Synonyms

haste, hurry, hustle, rush—more at HURRY

pre·cip·i·tous adjective 1 : showing extreme or unwise haste : PRECIPITATE

2 : having the character of a precipice : very steep ; also : containing precipices <~ trails>

Synonyms

abrupt, bold, sheer, steep—more at STEEP

pre·cip·i·tous·ly adverb : in a precipitous manner

pré·cis noun, plural pré·cis [ORIGIN: F]

: a concise summary of essentials

Synonyms

abstract, digest, encapsulation, epitome, outline, recapitulation, résumé, roundup, sum, summary, synopsis—more at SUMMARY

pre·cise adjective 1 : exactly defined or stated

2 : highly accurate : EXACT

3 : conforming strictly to a standard : SCRUPULOUS

Synonyms

[1] distinct, especial, express, set, special, specific—more at EXPRESS

[2] accurate, correct, exact, proper, right, so, true—more at CORRECT

[2, 3] accurate, close, delicate, exact, fine, mathematical, pinpoint, rigorous, scrupulous; also correct, right, strict, true; definite, definitive; nice, subtle, careful, fastidious, finicky

Antonyms

coarse, imprecise, inaccurate, inexact, rough

pre·cise·ly : in a precise manner

Synonyms

accurately, exactly, just, right, sharp, squarely, strictly—more at EXACTLY

pre·cise·ness noun : the quality or state of being precise

pre·ci·sion noun : the quality or state of being precise

Synonyms

accuracy, closeness, delicacy, exactness, fineness, veracity; also correctness, rightness, strictness, truth; definiteness; nicety, subtlety; care, carefulness, fastidiousness

Antonyms

coarseness, impreciseness, imprecision, inaccuracy, inexactness, roughness

pre·clude verb pre·clud·ed; pre·clud·ing : to make impossible : PREVENT

Synonyms

avert, forestall, help, obviate, prevent—more at PREVENT

pre·co·cious adjective [ORIGIN: L praecoc-, praecox, lit., ripening early, fr. prae- ahead + coquere to cook]

1 : exceptionally early in development or occurrence

2 : exhibiting mature qualities at an unusually early age

— pre·coc·i·ty noun

Synonyms

early, premature, unseasonable, untimely—more at