Definitions for: Precipitate


[n] a precipitated solid substance in suspension or after settling or filtering
[adj] done with very great haste and without due deliberation; "hasty marriage seldom proveth well"- Shakespeare; "hasty makeshifts take the place of planning"- Arthur Geddes; "rejected what was regarded as an overhasty plan for reconversion"; "wondered whether they had been rather precipitate in deposing the king"
[v] separate as a fine suspension of solid particles
[v] hurl or throw violently; "The bridge broke and precipitated the train into the river below"
[v] bring about abruptly; "The crisis precipitated by Russia's revolution"
[v] fall vertically, sharply, or headlong; "Our economy precipitated into complete ruin"
[v] fall from clouds; "rain, snow and sleet were falling"; "Vesuvius precipitated its fiery, destructive rage on Herculaneum"



Webster (1913) Definition: Pre*cip"i*tate, a. [L. praecipitatus, p. p. of
praecipitare to precipitate, fr. praeceps headlong. See
Precipice.]
1. Overhasty; rash; as, the king was too precipitate in
declaring war. --Clarendon.

2. Lacking due deliberation or care; hurried; said or done
before the time; as, a precipitate measure. ``The rapidity
of our too precipitate course.'' --Landor.

3. Falling, flowing, or rushing, with steep descent;
headlong.

Precipitate the furious torrent flows. --Prior.

4. Ending quickly in death; brief and fatal; as, a
precipitate case of disease. [Obs.] --Arbuthnot.


Pre*cip"i*tate, n. [NL. praecipitatum: cf. F.
pr['e]cipit['e].]
1. (Chem.) An insoluble substance separated from a solution
in a concrete state by the action of some reagent added to
the solution, or of some force, such as heat or cold. The
precipitate may fall to the bottom (whence the name), may
be diffused through the solution, or may float at or near
the surface.

Red precipitate (Old. Chem), mercuric oxide (HgO) a heavy
red crystalline powder obtained by heating mercuric
nitrate, or by heating mercury in the air. Prepared in the
latter manner, it was the precipitate per se of the
alchemists.

White precipitate (Old Chem.)
(a) A heavy white amorphous powder (NH2.HgCl) obtained
by adding ammonia to a solution of mercuric chloride
or corrosive sublimate; -- formerly called also
infusible white precipitate, and now {amido-mercuric
chloride}.
(b) A white crystalline substance obtained by adding a
solution of corrosive sublimate to a solution of sal
ammoniac (ammonium chloride); -- formerly called also
fusible white precipitate.


Pre*cip"i*tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p.
Precipitated; p. pr. & vb. n. Precipitating.]
1. To throw headlong; to cast down from a precipice or
height.

She and her horse had been precipitated to the
pebbled region of the river. --W. Irving.

2. To urge or press on with eager haste or violence; to cause
to happen, or come to a crisis, suddenly or too soon; as,
precipitate a journey, or a conflict.

Back to his sight precipitates her steps. --Glover.

If they be daring, it may precipitate their designs,
and prove dangerous. --Bacon.

3. (Chem.) To separate from a solution, or other medium, in
the form of a precipitate; as, water precipitates camphor
when in solution with alcohol.

The light vapor of the preceding evening had been
precipitated by the cold. --W. Irving.


Pre*cip"i*tate, v. i.
1. To dash or fall headlong. [R.]

So many fathom down precipitating. --Shak.

2. To hasten without preparation. [R.]

3. (Chem.) To separate from a solution as a precipitate. See
Precipitate, n.

Synonyms: come down, fall, hasty, hurried, overhasty, precipitant

See Also: bring about, cast, change state, come down, condense, descend, distil, distill, effect, effectuate, fall, go down, hail, hurl, hurtle, rain, rain down, set up, sleet, sludge, snow, solid, spat, turn

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