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Definition of precipitation noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

precipitation

noun
 
/prɪˌsɪpɪˈteɪʃn/
 
/prɪˌsɪpɪˈteɪʃn/
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  1. [uncountable] (specialist) rain, snow, etc. that falls; the amount of this that falls
    • There is heavy precipitation in some parts of the country.
    • Acid precipitation may cause a reduction in forest productivity.
    • an increase in annual precipitation
    • Annual precipitation ranges from 500 to 2 200 mm.
    • In these areas precipitation was formerly too low to support growth.
    Topics Weatherc2
  2. [uncountable, countable] (chemistry) a chemical process in which solid material is separated from a liquid
    • calcium phosphate precipitation
  3. Word Originlate Middle English (denoting the action of falling or throwing down): from Latin praecipitatio(n-), from praecipitare ‘throw down or headlong’, from praeceps, praecip(it)- ‘headlong’, from prae ‘before’ + caput ‘head’.
See precipitation in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee precipitation in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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