precipitation

Meanings

1. 1noununcountabletechnical

   Water that falls from clouds to the ground as rain, snow, hail, or sleet.

   Grammar: No plural; used as a mass noun. Do not say 'a precipitation' or 'precipitations'.

   Patterns

   • precipitation falls
   • measure precipitation
   • heavy precipitation

   The mountain receives very little precipitation during the summer months.

   Weather stations measure precipitation with a rain gauge.

   Snow and hail are forms of precipitation.

2. 2noununcountabletechnical

   The process by which water in clouds falls to the ground as rain, snow, etc.

   Grammar: Also uncountable; often used in scientific or weather contexts.

   Patterns

   • the precipitation of water
   • precipitation occurs

   Precipitation occurs when cloud droplets become too heavy to stay in the air.

   The water cycle includes evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

3. 3nouncountable or uncountablechemistry

   In chemistry, the formation of a solid substance from a solution.

   Grammar: Can be countable when referring to a specific instance: 'a white precipitate formed'. The solid itself is called a precipitate.

   Patterns

   • the precipitation of a solid
   • cause precipitation

   Adding acid caused the precipitation of a white solid.

   The lab experiment demonstrated precipitation from a clear solution.

4. 4noununcountableformalliterary

   A sudden or hasty action, often too quick to be wise.

   Grammar: Formal and literary; usually in the phrase 'with precipitation'.

   Patterns

   • with precipitation
   • act with precipitation

   She left with precipitation, without saying goodbye.

   The decision was made with such precipitation that no one had time to object.

Common combinations

heavy precipitation

The storm brought heavy precipitation to the coast.

annual precipitation

The desert receives less than 10 inches of annual precipitation.

chance of precipitation

The forecast says there is a 60% chance of precipitation tomorrow.

precipitation falls

Most precipitation falls in the winter here.

measure precipitation

Scientists measure precipitation to track climate change.

Synonyms and how they differ

rainfall

Only refers to rain, not snow or hail; precipitation is the broader term.

snowfall

Specifically snow; precipitation covers all forms.

Word family

precipitate verb

To cause something to happen suddenly or too soon.

precipitate noun

A solid that forms from a solution in chemistry.

precipitous adjective

Very steep, or done too quickly.

Commonly confused: precipitation or precipitation?

Practice

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