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# precipitate

verb (precipitate, precipitates, precipitated, precipitating); noun (a precipitate, precipitates – chemistry); adjective (precipitate – formal)

«precipitate» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (verb, formal) To make something bad happen suddenly or sooner than expected: «The argument precipitated a fight». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precipitate/#m1)
2. (verb, chemistry) For a solid to form and separate out of a liquid during a reaction; (noun) the solid that forms. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precipitate/#m2)
3. (verb, science) For water vapour to fall as rain, snow, sleet or hail. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precipitate/#m3)
4. (adjective, formal) Done too quickly, without thinking: «a precipitate decision». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precipitate/#m4)
5. To precipitate yourself means to throw yourself suddenly and headlong into something. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precipitate/#m5)

### In the lessons

In science lessons: mixing two clear liquids can make a cloudy precipitate; «precipitation» is rain, snow and hail in weather lessons. In history and the exam voice: an event «precipitated» a war or a crisis. In stories: a precipitate act is hasty. Phrases: «precipitate a crisis», «a white precipitate», «precipitate into».

### Examples

- The rude comment precipitated a big argument. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precipitate/#x1)
- When we mixed the two liquids, a white precipitate formed. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precipitate/#x2)
- The storm precipitated a power cut. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precipitate/#x3)
- Water vapour cools and precipitates as rain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precipitate/#x4)
- His precipitate decision to quit the team surprised everyone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precipitate/#x5)
- The chalky solid precipitated to the bottom of the test tube. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precipitate/#x6)
- The loss of his job precipitated the family's move. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precipitate/#x7)
- With a despairing scream the pirate leapt upon Long Tom and precipitated himself into the sea. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precipitate/#x8)

### Note

Regular verb: precipitated. Stress differs: verb pre-SIP-i-tate; noun and adjective pre-SIP-i-tut or pre-SIP-i-tate. Related: «precipitation» (rain, snow, sleet, hail), «precipitous» (very steep). The formal adjective «precipitate» (hasty) is rare; «hasty» or «rash» is more common.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «precipitate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/precipitate/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«precipitate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/precipitate.html) on Mova free.