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Definition of precipitous adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

precipitous

adjective
 
/prɪˈsɪpɪtəs/
 
/prɪˈsɪpɪtəs/
(formal)
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  1. very steep, high and often dangerous synonym sheer
    • precipitous cliffs
    • a precipitous drop at the side of the road
  2. sudden and great synonym abrupt
    • a precipitous decline in exports
  3. done very quickly, without enough thought or care synonym hasty
    • a precipitous action
  4. Word Originmid 17th cent.: from obsolete French précipiteux, from Latin praeceps, praecip(it)- ‘steep, headlong’, from prae ‘before’ + caput ‘head’.
See precipitous in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee precipitous in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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