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 ]

n. [ NL. praecipitatum: cf. F. précipité. ] (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 ]

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 ]

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 ]

adv. In a precipitate manner; headlong; hastily; rashly. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. praecipitatio: cf. F. précipitation. ] 1. The act of precipitating, or the state of being precipitated, or thrown headlong. [ 1913 Webster ]

In peril of precipitation
From off rock Tarpeian. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A falling, flowing, or rushing downward with violence and rapidity. [ 1913 Webster ]

The hurry, precipitation, and rapid motion of the water, returning . . . towards the sea. Woodward. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Great hurry; rash, tumultuous haste; impetuosity. “The precipitation of inexperience.” Rambler. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Chem.) The act or process of precipitating from a solution. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Meteorology) A deposit on the earth of hail, mist, rain, sleet, or snow; also, the quantity of water deposited.

☞ Deposits of dew, fog, and frost are not regarded by the United States Weather Bureau as precipitation. Sleet and snow are melted, and the record of precipitation shows the depth of the horizontal layers of water in hundredths of an inch or in millimeters. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ L. praecipitator an overthrower. ] One who precipitates, or urges on with vehemence or rashness. Hammond. [ 1913 Webster ]