Precipitation
pri-sip-i-TAY-shun
/prɪˌsɪpɪˈteɪʃən/
Any form of water that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
It's a collective term for all forms of falling water, not just rain.
The story behind the word. The word 'precipitation' comes from the Latin verb 'praecipitare', meaning 'to cast down' or 'to throw headlong'. In its original sense, it referred to something falling rapidly. In chemistry, it describes a solid forming and falling out of a solution. By the 17th century, this idea of 'falling down' was applied to water falling from the sky, giving us its meteorological meaning.
Word relationships
- rainfall: Specifically refers to rain, not other forms like snow or hail.
- downpour: Refers to heavy rain, not a general term for all forms.
Word family
- precipitate (verb): To cause to happen suddenly or prematurely; (chemistry) to cause a substance to be deposited in solid form from a solution.
- precipitous (adjective): Dangerously high or steep; (of an action) done suddenly and without careful consideration.
Collocations
- heavy precipitation
- light precipitation
- annual precipitation
- forms of precipitation
Example sentences
- "The forecast indicates a high chance of precipitation throughout the weekend, with snow expected at higher elevations." A weather report.
- "Precipitation is a crucial component of the Earth's water cycle, replenishing rivers and groundwater." Discussing the water cycle.
Memory hook
Think of 'PRE-SIP-i-TATION' as water 'PRE'paring to 'SIP' from the sky and 'TATION' (station) on the ground. Water falling down
When not to use
Do not use 'precipitation' to refer to dew or fog, as these do not 'fall' from the atmosphere.
Fun facts
- The largest hailstone ever recorded in the U.S. was 8 inches in diameter and weighed nearly 2 pounds.
- Fog is not considered precipitation because its water droplets are suspended in the air, not falling.
Related words
Explore more words
sleet, hailstorm, downpour, rainforest, precipitate, particulate
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