precipitation
gb/pɹɪsˌɪpɪtˈeɪʃən/ us/pɹɪsˌɪpɪtˈeɪʃən/
B2
Anglais
~ 8100
Sens
0 sens
Nom
B2
event
1
rain, snow, and similar water
Water that falls from the sky as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
Schéma d’usage :
precipitation falls on [place]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes treat "precipitation" as countable (e.g., *"many precipitations") or confuse it with "participation" because they sound similar. "Precipitation" in this weather sense is usually uncountable and refers to rain, snow, etc., not to taking part in something.
Synonymes
rainfall (Refers only to rain, not to snow, sleet, or hail, and is slightly more common in everyday speech.)
Antonymes
drought (Describes a long period with very little or no precipitation.)
Collocations
heavy precipitation
|light precipitation
|frozen precipitation
|winter precipitation
|precipitation forecast
|chance of precipitation
Thèmes
weather
|environment
|science
|nature
Exemples
- The forecast is calling for heavy precipitation across the region tonight.
- Most of the year’s precipitation here falls as snow rather than rain.
- Freezing rain is one of the most dangerous types of precipitation for drivers.
- This desert receives very little precipitation, even in winter.
- The mountains create a barrier that increases precipitation on the western side.
Exemples pédagogiques
- We may get some precipitation this afternoon.
- In this city, most precipitation comes in the spring.
- The weather app shows no precipitation for the next three days.
- Snow is a type of precipitation.
- Plants need regular precipitation to grow well.
Nom
B2
quantity
2
amount of rain or snow
The amount of rain or snow that falls in a place during a certain time, usually shown in millimeters or inches.
Schéma d’usage :
the [period] precipitation in [place] is [amount]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may use "rain" instead of "precipitation" in scientific or geographic contexts where snow and other forms are also included, or they may not realize that this sense focuses on the measured amount, not just the event itself.
Synonymes
rainfall (Often used for measured amounts in reports (e.g., "annual rainfall"), but technically refers only to rain, not snow or hail.)
Antonymes
dryness (Describes conditions with little or no precipitation over a period.)
Collocations
annual precipitation
|average precipitation
|total precipitation
|low precipitation
|high precipitation
|seasonal precipitation
Thèmes
weather
|geography
|science
Exemples
- The city’s average annual precipitation is just over 600 millimeters.
- Climate change is expected to increase winter precipitation in this region.
- Farmers are worried because this year’s precipitation has been far below normal.
- The map shows how precipitation varies across the country.
- Tropical forests receive high levels of precipitation throughout the year.
Exemples pédagogiques
- This area has very low annual precipitation.
- The average precipitation in June is 80 millimeters.
- Scientists measured the precipitation over the last ten years.
- We moved to a place with higher precipitation for our farm.
- Graphs of precipitation help us understand the climate.
Nom
technical
C1
event
3
solid forming from a solution
In chemistry, when a solid forms in a liquid because of a reaction or change, or the solid that appears.
Schéma d’usage :
precipitation of [substance] from [solution]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners often think "precipitation" only means rain or snow and may not realize it has a separate, technical meaning in chemistry. They may also confuse the noun "precipitation" with the verb "to precipitate" and use the wrong form in sentences.
Synonymes
crystallization (Similar, but usually refers specifically to the formation of crystals, while precipitation can produce non-crystalline solids as well.)
Antonymes
dissolution (Describes a solid going into solution, the opposite direction of precipitation.)
Collocations
precipitation reaction
|protein precipitation
|salt precipitation
|precipitation process
|precipitation of minerals
Thèmes
science
|chemistry
Exemples
- The sudden precipitation of solids indicated that the reaction was complete.
- Cooling the solution caused the precipitation of fine copper crystals.
- In water treatment, precipitation is used to remove heavy metals from wastewater.
- The cloudy appearance came from the precipitation of calcium carbonate.
- Adjusting the pH can control the precipitation of different ions.
Exemples pédagogiques
- In this experiment, we watch the precipitation of a white solid.
- Heating the liquid stops the precipitation of crystals.
- Precipitation happens when the solution cannot hold more of the substance.
- The brown solid is the precipitation from the reaction.
- They used precipitation to clean the dirty water in the lab.
Nom
formal
C2
property
4
great haste or rashness
Doing something very fast and without enough thinking.
Schéma d’usage :
to act with precipitation
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may misinterpret this formal sense as the weather meaning if they have not seen it before. It is rare in modern speech and mostly found in formal or literary writing, so learners should rely on more common words like "haste" or "rush" in everyday use.
Synonymes
haste (More common and general; "precipitation" sounds more formal and often suggests poor judgment.)
Antonymes
deliberation (Emphasizes careful, unhurried thought, the opposite of acting with precipitation.)
Collocations
act with precipitation
|speak with precipitation
|avoid precipitation
|without precipitation
Thèmes
behavior
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- The decision was made with such precipitation that key risks were overlooked.
- He later regretted the precipitation with which he resigned from his post.
- In matters of public policy, precipitation can lead to serious unintended consequences.
Exemples pédagogiques
- He spoke with precipitation and later felt sorry.
- We should not act with precipitation in this important case.
- Her precipitation caused many small but costly mistakes.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
precipitation
API
GB/pɹɪsˌɪpɪtˈeɪʃən/
US/pɹɪsˌɪpɪtˈeɪʃən/
Syllabes et accentuation
pre - cip - it - a - tion (5 syllabes)
Stress on 4th syllable (a)
Formes du mot
Noun
- Base: precipitation
- Plural: precipitation, precipitations
Famille de mots
Forms
precipitations
noun
Core family
precipitate
verb C1
Related words
precipitous
adjective
precipitously
adverb
Expressions
chance of precipitation
1/t͡ʃˈæns əv pɹɪsˌɪpɪtˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
likelihood of rain or snow
How likely it is that rain, snow, or other precipitation will fall in a place during a certain time.
Exemples
- The forecast shows a 60 percent chance of precipitation this evening.
- There is only a slight chance of precipitation tomorrow, so the game should go ahead.
- With no chance of precipitation in the forecast, the organizers decided to hold the concert outdoors.