ENGLISH
REFERENCE

precipitate

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //pɹɪˈsɪpɪˌteɪt// pre·cip·i·tate

n. a solid substance that forms and settles at the bottom of a liquid when two chemicals are mixed. It is often the result of a chemical reaction.

n. a solid substance that separates from a solution during a chemical reaction or as a result of a change in temperature or concentration.


SIMPLE

The white precipitate formed immediately after the two liquids mixed.

CONTEXTUAL

The technician observed a yellow precipitate forming in the test tube, indicating the presence of lead ions in the sample.

COMPLEX

In the laboratory, the formation of a crystalline precipitate serves as a clear visual indicator that a double displacement reaction has reached completion.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Latin praecipitātus, perfect passive participle of praecipitō (“throw down, hurl down, throw headlong”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) for more), from praeceps (“head foremost, headlong”) (praecipit- in its oblique stem), from prae (“before”) + -ceps (“headed”).

Etymology 2

From Latin praecipitātus (see Etymology 1 and -ate (adjective-forming suffix) for more).

Etymology 3

From New Latin praecipitatum. Equivalent to Latin praecipitō + -ate (noun-forming suffix).

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