Noun

Singular precipitation

Plural countable and uncountable; plural precipitations

precipitation (countable and uncountable; plural precipitations)

1. A hurried headlong fall.
2. (countable, chemistry) A reaction that leads to the formation of a heavier solid in a lighter liquid; the precipitate so formed at the bottom of the container.
3. (Weather) Any or all of the forms of water particles, whether liquid or solid, that fall from the atmosphere (e.g., rain, hail, snow or sleet). It is a major class of hydrometeor, but it is distinguished from cloud, fog, dew, rime, frost, etc., in that it must fall. It is distinguished from cloud and virga in that it must reach the ground.
4. (figuratively) Unwise or rash rapidity; sudden haste.

   had acted with some precipitation and had probably started out upon a wild-goose chase -- Dorothy Sayers

Precipitation may refer to:

• Precipitation (meteorology), rain, sleet, hail, snow and other forms of water falling from the sky
• Precipitation (chemistry), the condensation of a solid from a solution during a chemical reaction
• Precipitation (horse), a Thoroughbred racehorse

• Acid precipitation, a type of meteorological precipitation characterized by high acidity.
• Ammonium sulfate precipitation, a method of purifying proteins
• Ethanol precipitation, a method of concentrating DNA
• Precipitation hardening, a method used to strengthen malleable materials
• Protein precipitation, a method of separating contaminants from biological products.
• Basic precipitation, a type of precipitation characterized by high alkalinity.