precipitate

Cause to happen

Precipitate means to cause something to happen suddenly or prematurely: The scandal precipitated his resignation.

In chemistry, to precipitate is to separate a solid from a solution; the noun precipitate names this solid residue.

As an adjective, precipitate describes hasty, rash action without due consideration: a precipitate decision.

Rain, snow, and hail precipitate from clouds—they fall as precipitation.

atmospheric

rain

Water dropping from clouds

snowFrozen crystalline precipitation
sleetPartly frozen precipitation
hailIcy precipitation pellets

drizzle · downpour · monsoon · shower · deluge · rainfall · cloudburst · squall · graupel · virga

rash

impetuous

Acting on sudden urge

recklessCarelessly ignoring danger
impulsiveActing without deliberation
hotheadedEasily provoked to anger

incautious · imprudent · ill-considered · hasty · heedless · foolhardy · headlong · unthinking · injudicious · brash

plunge

fall

Descend under gravity

tumbleUncontrolled rolling descent
plummetRapid downward descent
descendMove to lower position

drop · cascade · dive · topple · hurtle · headlong · freefall · pitch · lunge · nosedive

chemical

crystallize

Form into ordered structure

soluteSubstance absorbed by solvent
reagentSubstance prompting chemical change
filtrateLiquid after straining

sediment · supersaturation · solubility · nucleation · suspension · colloid · centrifuge · decant · residue · insoluble

hasten

catalyze

Accelerate a process

expediteSpeed up a process
quickenTo accelerate or animate
accelerateIncrease in velocity

fast-track · trigger · spark · spur · propel · induce · provoke · instigate · prompt · set-off

condense

moisture

Small amounts of liquid

humidityMoisture in atmosphere
dewpointCondensation onset temperature
vaporGaseous form of liquid

droplets · fog · mist · condensation · saturation · cooling · dew · clouds · frost · evaporation

Categories

Chemical Equilibriumchemical equilibrium, dynamic equilibrium, buffer, buffer solution, Kb
wastetrash, garbage, rubbish, refuse, debris
weather verbsrain, snow, hail, sleet, drizzle
recklessreckless, careless, rash, heedless, imprudent
chemistryatom, atoms, organic chemistry, molecule, chemistry
geology verbserode, deposit, subduct, uplift, fault

Opposites

MANNER/SPEED (adjective: hasty, rash)

precipitatedeliberate

Consciously chosen, not accidental

unhurried · slow · careful · cautious · measured

CAUSAL ROLE (verb: to cause/trigger)

precipitateprevent

Stop in advance

avert · forestall · stop · halt · check

PHYSICAL PROCESS (verb/noun: to fall out of solution, solid deposit)

precipitatedissolve

Disperse into liquid

solute · solution · suspend · disperse · diffuse

Phrases

winter precipitationFrozen water from clouds
frozen precipitationIce falling from sky
mixed precipitationMultiple falling water forms
precipitation mapVisual of falling moisture

Family

precipitation, precipitant, precipitated, precipitately, precipitating, precipitations, precipitates, precipitator, precipitators

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