precipitate



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Precipitate \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.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Falling, flowing, or rushing, with steep descent;
      headlong.
      [1913 Webster]

            Precipitate the furious torrent flows. --Prior.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. Ending quickly in death; brief and fatal; as, a
      precipitate case of disease. [Obs.] --Arbuthnot.
      [1913 Webster]
.



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Precipitate \Pre*cip"i*tate\, n. [NL. praecipitatum: cf. F.
   pr['e]cipit['e].] (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.
   [1913 Webster]

   2. atmospheric moisture condensed as rain or snow, etc.; same
      as precipitation[5].
      [PJC]

   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.
          [1913 Webster]
.



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


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.
      [1913 Webster]

            She and her horse had been precipitated to the
            pebbled region of the river.          --W. Irving.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

            Back to his sight precipitates her steps. --Glover.
      [1913 Webster]

            If they be daring, it may precipitate their designs,
            and prove dangerous.                  --Bacon.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
      [1913 Webster]

            The light vapor of the preceding evening had been
            precipitated by the cold.             --W. Irving.
      [1913 Webster]
.



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Precipitate \Pre*cip"i*tate\, v. i.
   1. To dash or fall headlong. [R.]
      [1913 Webster]

            So many fathom down precipitating.    --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To hasten without preparation. [R.]
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Chem.) To separate from a solution as a precipitate. See
      Precipitate, n.
      [1913 Webster]














Feedback Form