Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter P - Page 108
Precipitation (n.) 猛然落下（或摔下）；猛衝 [U]；急躁；魯莽；倉促 [U]；促成；加速 [U]；【化】沉澱 [U]；沉澱物 [C] [U]；（雨、雪等的）降下 [U] [C]； 雨；雪 [U]；降雨（雪）量 [U] The act of precipitating, or the state of being precipitated, or thrown headlong.
In peril of precipitation From off rock Tarpeian. -- Shak.
Precipitation (n.) A falling, flowing, or rushing downward with violence and rapidity.
The hurry, precipitation, and rapid motion of the water, returning . . . towards the sea. -- Woodward.
Precipitation (n.) Great hurry; rash, tumultuous haste; impetuosity.
Precipitation (n.) (Chem.) The act or process of precipitating from a solution.
Precipitation (n.) (Meteorology) A deposit on the earth of hail, mist, rain, sleet, or snow; also, the quantity of water deposited.
Note: Deposits of dew, fog, and frost are not regarded by the United States Weather Bureau as precipitation. Sleet and snow are melted, and the record of precipitation shows the depth of the horizontal layers of water in hundredths of an inch or in millimeters.
Precipitation (n.) The quantity of water falling to earth at a specific place within a specified period of time; "the storm brought several inches of precipitation".
Precipitation (n.) The process of forming a chemical precipitate.
Precipitation (n.) The falling to earth of any form of water (rain or snow or hail or sleet or mist) [syn: {precipitation}, {downfall}].
Precipitation (n.) The act of casting down or falling headlong from a height.
Precipitation (n.) An unexpected acceleration or hastening; "he is responsible for the precipitation of his own demise".
Precipitation (n.) Overly eager speed (and possible carelessness); "he soon regretted his haste" [syn: {haste}, {hastiness}, {hurry}, {hurriedness}, {precipitation}].
Precipitator (n.) 催促的人，沈澱劑，沈澱器 One who precipitates, or urges on with vehemence or rashness. -- Hammond.
Precipitator (n.) Removes dust particles from gases by electrostatic precipitation [syn: {precipitator}, {electrostatic precipitator}, {Cottrell precipitator}].
Precipitious (a.) Precipitous. [Obs.] -- {Prec`i*pi"tious*ly}, adv. [Obs.] -- Dr. H. More.
Precipitous (a.) 有懸岩峭壁的；險峻的，陡峭的；急躁的，魯莽的；倉卒的 Steep, like a precipice; as, a precipitous cliff or mountain.
Precipitous (a.) Headlong; as, precipitous fall.
Precipitous (a.) Hasty; rash; quick; sudden; precipitate; as, precipitous attempts. -- Sir T. Browne. "Marian's low, precipitous `Hush!'" -- Mrs. Browning. -- {Pre*cip"i*tous*ly}, adv. -- {Pre*cip"i*tous*ness}, n.
Precipitous (a.) Done with very great haste and without due deliberation; "hasty marriage seldom proveth well"- Shakespeare; "hasty makeshifts take the place of planning"- Arthur Geddes; "rejected what was regarded as an overhasty plan for reconversion"; "wondered whether they had been rather precipitate in deposing the king" [syn: {hasty}, {overhasty}, {precipitate}, {precipitant}, {precipitous}].
Precipitous (a.) Extremely steep; "an abrupt canyon"; "the precipitous rapids of the upper river"; "the precipitous hills of Chinese paintings"; "a sharp drop" [syn: {abrupt}, {precipitous}, {sharp}].
Precipitous (a.) 陡峭的，陡峻的 If a slope is precipitous, it is very steep.
// A precipitous mountain path.
Precipitous (a.) 驟然的，急遽的 If a reduction or increase is precipitous, it is fast or great.
// Over the past 18 months, there has been a precipitous fall in car sales.
Precipitously (adv.) 陡峭地；陡然地，出乎意料地 Very suddenly and to a great degree; "conditions that precipitously increase the birthrate"; "prices rose sharply" [syn: {precipitously}, {sharply}].
Precipitously (adv.) Abruptly; in a precipitous manner; "the mountains rose precipitously from the shore".
Precipitously (adv.) Very steeply.
‘Off the coast, the depth of the sea floor drops precipitously.’
‘A wall collapsed, causing the floors above to slope precipitously.’
Precipitously (adv.) (With reference to a change to a worse situation) Suddenly and dramatically.
‘Sales dropped precipitously.’
‘Savings rates have fallen precipitously.’
Precipitously (adv.) Hastily and without careful consideration.
‘Several columnists criticized the government for acting precipitously.’
Precis (n.) 大意；摘要 A concise or abridged statement or view; an abstract; a summary.
Precis (v. t.) 【法】為……寫摘要；概括……的大意 To make a precis of.
Precis (n.) A sketchy summary of the main points of an argument or theory [syn: {outline}, {synopsis}, {abstract}, {precis}].
Precis (v.) Make a summary (of).
Precise (a.) 精確的，嚴謹的，明白的 Having determinate limitations; exactly or sharply defined or stated; definite; exact; nice; not vague or equivocal; as, precise rules of morality.
Precise (a.) Strictly adhering or conforming to rule; very nice or exact; punctilious in conduct or ceremony; formal; ceremonious.
Precise (a.) Sharply exact or accurate or delimited; "a precise mind"; "specified a precise amount"; "arrived at the precise moment" [ant: {imprecise}].
Precise (a.) (of ideas, images, representations, expressions) Characterized by perfect conformity to fact or truth ; strictly correct; "a precise image"; "a precise measurement" [syn: {accurate}, {exact}, {precise}].
Precisely (adv.) 精確地，明確地 Indicating exactness or preciseness; "he was doing precisely (or exactly) what she had told him to do"; "it was just as he said--the jewel was gone"; "it has just enough salt" [syn: {precisely}, {exactly}, {just}].
Precisely (adv.) In a precise manner; "she always expressed herself precisely" [syn: {precisely}, {incisively}, {exactly}] [ant: {imprecisely}, {inexactly}].
Precisely (adv.) Just as it should be; "`Precisely, my lord,' he said" [syn: {precisely}, {exactly}, {on the nose}, {on the dot}, {on the button}].
Precisian (n.) 嚴格遵守教規的人（尤指十六，七世紀英國的清教徒） One who limits, or restrains. [Obs.]
Precisian (n.) An overprecise person; one rigidly or ceremoniously exact in the observance of rules; a formalist; -- formerly applied to the English Puritans.
The most dissolute cavaliers stood aghast at the dissoluteness of the emancipated precisian. -- Macaulay.
Precisianism (n.) (pl. -s) The quality or state of being a precisian; the practice of a precisian; specifically : puritanism.
Compare: Precisian
Precisian (n.) 嚴格遵守教規的人（尤指十六，七世紀英國的清教徒） A person who stresses or practices scrupulous adherence to a strict standard especially of religious observance or morality.
Precisian (n.) Puritan sense 1.
Compare: Puritanism
Puritanism (n.) 清教徒習俗，清教主義；清教徒式生活準則，道德極端拘謹 Capitalized : The beliefs and practices characteristic of the Puritans.
Puritanism (n.) Strictness and austerity especially in matters of religion or conduct.
Precisianist (n.) (pl. Precisianists) A precisian; a religious purist or Puritan.
Precision (n.) [U] 精確度；精確（性）；精密（度）；準確（性）；確切（性）；清晰（性）；明確（性） The quality or state of being precise; exact limitation; exactness; accuracy; strict conformity to a rule or a standard; definiteness.
I have left out the utmost precisions of fractions. -- Locke.
Syn: Preciseness; exactness; accuracy; nicety.
Usage: {Precision}, {Preciseness}. Precision is always used in a good sense; as, precision of thought or language; precision in military evolutions. Preciseness is sometimes applied to persons or their conduct in a disparaging sense, and precise is often used in the same way.
Precision (n.) The quality of being reproducible in amount or performance; "he handled it with the preciseness of an automaton"; "note the meticulous precision of his measurements" [syn: {preciseness}, {precision}] [ant: {impreciseness}, {imprecision}].
Precision () The number of decimal places to which a number is computed. Compare accuracy. (1998-04-19)
Compare: Accuracy
Accuracy (n.) [See {Accurate}.] 正確（性）；準確（性）[U] The state of being accurate; freedom from mistakes, this exemption arising from carefulness; exact conformity to truth, or to a rule or model; precision; exactness; nicety; correctness; as, the value of testimony depends on its accuracy.
The professed end [of logic] is to teach men to think, to judge, and to reason, with precision and accuracy. -- Reid.
The accuracy with which the piston fits the sides. -- Lardner.
Accuracy (n.) The quality of being near to the true value; "he was beginning to doubt the accuracy of his compass"; "the lawyer questioned the truth of my account" [syn: {accuracy}, {truth}] [ant: {inaccuracy}].
Accuracy (n.) (Mathematics) The number of significant figures given in a number; "the atomic clock enabled scientists to measure time with much greater accuracy".
Precision (n.) The state or quality of being precise.
Precision (n.) accuracy; exactness.
// To arrive at an estimate with precision.
Precision (n.) Mechanical or scientific exactness.
// A lens ground with precision.
Precision (n.) Punctiliousness; strictness.
// Precision in one's business dealings.
Precision (n.) [Mathematics.] The degree to which the correctness of a quantity is expressed.
Compare: Accuracy (def 3).
Precision (a.) [Z] 精確的；精密的Of, relating to, or characterized by precision.
// Precision swimming; precision instruments for aircraft.
Precision-guided munition, () 精準導引武器 A precision-guided munition (PGM, smart weapon, smart munition, smart bomb) is a guided munition intended to precisely hit a specific target, to minimize collateral damage and increase lethality against intended targets. [1] During the First Gulf War guided munitions accounted for only 9% of weapons fired, but accounted for 75% of all successful hits. Despite guided weapons generally being used on more difficult targets, they were still 35 times more likely to destroy their targets per weapon dropped. [2]
Precisive (a.) （將人或事與其他）割裂的，隔離的，分開的； 精確的，確切的 Cutting off; (Logic) exactly limiting by cutting off all that is not absolutely relative to the purpose; as, precisive censure; precisive abstraction. -- I. Watts.
Precluded (imp. & p. p.) of Preclude.
Precluding (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Preclude.
Preclude (v. t.) 【文】排除；防止，杜絕；阻止，妨礙 [（+from）] To put a barrier before; hence, to shut out; to hinder; to stop; to impede.
The valves preclude the blood from entering the veins. -- E. Darwin.
Preclude (v. t.) To shut out by anticipative action; to prevent or hinder by necessary consequence or implication; to deter action of, access to, employment of, etc.; to render ineffectual; to obviate by anticipation.
This much will obviate and preclude the objections. -- Bentley.
Preclude (v.) Keep from happening or arising; make impossible; "My sense of tact forbids an honest answer"; "Your role in the projects precludes your involvement in the competitive project" [syn: prevent, forestall, foreclose, preclude, forbid].
Preclude (v.) Make impossible, especially beforehand [syn: preclude, rule out, close out].
Preclusion (n.) 排除；防止；妨礙 The act of precluding, or the state of being precluded; a shutting out.
Preclusive (a.) 除外的；不可能的；妨礙的 Shutting out; precluding, or tending to preclude; hindering.
Precoce (a.) Precocious. [Obs.]
Precoces (n. pl.) (Zool.) Same as Pr[ae]coces.
Compare: Praecoces
Praecoces (n. pl.) [NL. See Precocious.] (Zool.) 早熟雛 A division of birds including those whose young are able to run about when first hatched.
Precocious (a.) 早熟的，早成的；過早成熟的，過早發育的 Ripe or mature before the proper or natural time; early or prematurely ripe or developed; as, precocious trees.
Precocious (a.) Developed more than is natural or usual at a given age; exceeding what is to be expected of one's years; too forward; -- used especially of mental forwardness; as, a precocious child; precocious talents.
Precociously (adv.) 早熟地 In a precocious manner.
Precociousness (n.) （智能）超前；早熟 Alt. of Precocity
Precocity (n.) （人，植物等的）早熟 The quality or state of being precocious; untimely ripeness; premature development, especially of the mental powers; forwardness.
Precoetanean (n.) One contemporary with, but older than, another. [Obs.] -- Fuller.
Precogitate (v. t.) To cogitate beforehand. [R.] -- Sherwood.
Compare: Cogitate
Cogitate (v. i.) [imp. & p.
p. Cogitated; p. pr. & vb. n. Cogitating.] 進行仔細考慮；進行反覆思考 To engage in
continuous thought; to think.
He that calleth a thing into his mind, whether by
impression or recordation, cogitateth and considereth, and he that employeth
the faculty of his fancy also cogitateth. -- Bacon.
Cogitate (v. t.) 仔細考慮；謀劃 To think over; to plan.
He . . . is our witness, how we both day and night, revolving
in our minds, did cogitate nothing more than how to satisfy the parts of a good
pastor. -- Foxe.
Cogitate (v.) Consider carefully
and deeply; reflect upon; turn over in one's mind.
Cogitate (v.) Use or exercise the mind or one's power of reason in order to make inferences, decisions, or arrive at a solution or judgments; "I've been thinking all day and getting nowhere" [syn: think, cogitate, cerebrate].
Precogitation (n.) Previous cogitation. [R.] -- Bailey.
Precognition (n.) Previous cognition. -- Fotherby.
Precognition (n.) (Scots Law) A preliminary examination of a criminal case with reference to a prosecution. -- Erskine.
Precognition (n.) Knowledge of an event before it occurs [syn: precognition, foreknowledge].
Precognizable (a.) Cognizable beforehand.
Precognosce (v. t.) (Scots Law) To examine beforehand, as witnesses or evidence.
A committee of nine precognoscing the chances. -- Masson.
Precollection (n.) A collection previously made. [R.]
Precomposed (imp. & p. p.) of Precompose
Precomposing (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Precompose
Precompose (v. t.) To compose beforehand. -- Johnson.
Preconceit (n.) An opinion or notion formed beforehand; a preconception. -- Hooker.
Preconceived (imp. & p. p.) of Preconceive.
Preconceiving (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Preconceive.
Preconceive (v. t.) To conceive, or form an opinion of, beforehand; to form a previous notion or idea of.
In a dead plain the way seemeth the longer, because the eye hath preconceived it shorter than the truth. -- Bacon.
Preconceive (v.) Conceive beforehand; "a preconceived notion".
Preconception (n.) The act of preconceiving; conception or opinion previously formed.
Preconception (n.) An opinion formed beforehand without adequate evidence; "he did not even try to confirm his preconceptions" [syn: preconception, prepossession, parti pris, preconceived opinion, preconceived idea, preconceived notion].
Preconception (n.) A partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation [syn: bias, prejudice, preconception].
Preconcerted (imp. & p. p.) of Preconcert.
Preconcerting (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Preconcert.
Preconcert (n.) Something concerted or arranged beforehand; a previous agreement.
Preconcert (v. t.) 預先約定；預先商洽 To concert or arrange beforehand; to settle by previous agreement.
Preconcerted (a.) 事先照會的；事先約定的 Previously arranged; agreed upon beforehand. -- Pre`con*cert"ed*ly, adv. -- Pre`con*cert"ed*ness, n.
Preconcertion (n.) The act of preconcerting; preconcert. -- Dr. T. Dwight.
Precondemn (v. t.) To condemn beforehand. -- Pre*con`dem*na"tion, n.
Precondition (n.) 先決條件 A previous or antecedent condition; a preliminary condition.
Precondition (n.) An assumption on which rests the validity or effect of something else [syn: condition, precondition, stipulation].
Precondition (n.) An assumption that is taken for granted [syn: given, presumption, precondition].
Precondition (n.) A condition that is a prerequisite.
Precondition (v. t.) 使事先具備條件；事先對……進行處理（或調節） Put into the required condition beforehand.
Preconform (v. t. & i.) To conform by way anticipation. -- De Quincey.
Preconformity (n.) Anticipative or antecedent conformity. -- Coleridge.
Preconizate (v. t.) To proclaim; to publish; also, to summon; to call. [Obs.] -- Bp. Burnet.
Preconization (n.) 公開宣布；公開召喚；（天主教）公開承認並宣布（新主教）姓名 A publishing by proclamation; a public proclamation. -- Bp. Hall.
Preconization (n.) (Eccl.) A formal approbation by the pope of a person nominated to an ecclesiastical dignity. -- Addis & Arnold.
Preconize (v. t.) (Eccl.) 公開宣言；指名召見；公布任命 To approve
by preconization.
Preconquer (v. t.) To conquer in
anticipation.
Preconscious (a.) Of or pertaining to a state before consciousness.
Preconsent (n.) A previous consent.
Preconsigned (imp. & p. p.) of Preconsign.
Preconsigning (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Preconsign.
Preconsign (v. t.) To consign beforehand; to make a previous consignment of.
Preconsolidated (a.) Consolidated beforehand.
Preconstitute (v. t.) To constitute or establish beforehand.
Precontracted (imp. & p. p.) of Precontract.
Precontracting (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Precontract.
Precontract (v. t.) 與……約婚；預約 To contract, engage, or stipulate previously.
Precontract (v. i.) 預約 To make a previous contract or agreement. -- Ayliffe.
Precontract (n.) 先約；婚約 A contract preceding another
Precontract (n.) a contract of marriage which, according to the ancient law, rendered void a subsequent marriage solemnized in violation of it. -- Abbott.
Precontrive (v. t. & i.) To contrive or plan beforehand.
Precoracoid (n.) (Anat.) The anterior part of the coracoid (often closely united with the clavicle) in the shoulder girdle of many reptiles and amphibians.
Precordial (a.) 心口的；心前區的；心窩的 Situated in front of the heart; of or pertaining to the pr[ae]cordia.
Precordial (a.) In front of the heart; involving the precordium.
Precrural (a.) (Anat.) Situated in front of the leg or thigh; as, the precrural glands of the horse.
Precurrer (n.) A precursor. [Obs.] -- Shak.
Precurse (n.) A forerunning. [Obs.] -- Shak.
Precursive (a.) Preceding; introductory; precursory.
Precursor (n.) 前導；先驅；前輩；前兆 One who, or that which, precedes an event, and indicates its approach; a forerunner; a harbinger.
Evil thoughts are the invisible, airy precursors of all the storms and tempests of the soul. -- Buckminster.
Syn: Predecessor; forerunner; harbinger; messenger; omen; sign.
Precursor (n.) A substance from which another substance is formed (especially by a metabolic reaction).
Precursor (n.) A person who goes before or announces the coming of another [syn: {precursor}, {forerunner}].
Precursor (n.) Something that precedes and indicates the approach of something or someone [syn: {harbinger}, {forerunner}, {predecessor}, {herald}, {precursor}].
Precursorship (n.) The position or condition of a precursor. -- Ruskin.
Precursory (a.) 先驅的；前兆的；作預備的 Preceding as a precursor or harbinger; indicating something to follow; as, precursory symptoms of a fever.
Precursory (n.) An introduction. [Obs.]
Precursory (a.) Warning of future misfortune [syn: {precursory}, {premonitory}].
Predacean (n.) (Zool.) A carnivorous animal. -- Kirby.
Compare: Carnivorous
Carnivorous (a.) 肉食性的；食肉的；食蟲的 (Of an animal) Feeding on other animals.
Carnivorous (a.) (Of a plant) Able to trap and digest small animals, especially insects.
Predaceous (a.) 捕食其他動物的；食肉的 Living by prey; predatory. -- Derham.
Predaceous (a.) Hunting and killing other animals for food [syn: predacious, predaceous].
Predaceous (a.) Living by or given to victimizing others for personal gain; "predatory capitalists"; "a predatory, insensate society in which innocence and decency can prove fatal"- Peter S. Prescott; "a predacious kind of animal -- the early geological gangster" -- W.E.Swinton [syn: predaceous, predacious, predatory].
Predal (a.) Of or pertaining to prey; plundering; predatory. [R.] -- Boyse.
Predate (v. t.) 把……的日期填得早於實際日期；在日期上早於 To date anticipation; to affix to (a document) an earlier than the actual date; to antedate; as, a predated deed or letter.
Predate (v.) Be earlier in time; go back further; "Stone tools precede bronze tools" [syn: predate, precede, forego, forgo, antecede, antedate] [ant: follow, postdate].
Predate (v.) Come before; "Most English adjectives precede the noun they modify" [syn: precede, predate]
Predate (v.) Prey on or hunt for; "These mammals predate certain eggs" [syn: raven, prey, predate].
Predate (v.) Establish something as being earlier relative to something else [syn: predate, antedate, foredate] [ant: postdate].
Predation (n.) 掠奪；掠食 The act of pillaging. -- E. Hall.
Predation (n.) An act of plundering and pillaging and marauding [syn: depredation, predation].
Predation (n.) The act of preying by a predator who kills and eats the prey.
Predator (n.) [ C ] (C1) 捕食性動物，食肉動物；掠奪者 An animal that hunts, kills, and eats other animals.
// Lions, wolves, and other predators.
Predator (n.) (Disapproving) 尾隨傷害他人者，尾隨作案者 Someone who follows people in order to harm them or commit a crime against them.
// A sexual predator.
In court, he was accused of being a merciless predator who had tricked his grandmother out of her savings.
Predatorily (adv.) 掠奪地 In a predatory manner.
Predatory (a.) [Z] 以捕食其他動物為生的，食肉的；掠奪（性的）；掠奪成性的 Characterized by plundering; practicing rapine; plundering; pillaging; as, a predatory excursion; a predatory party. "A predatory war." -- Macaulay.
Predatory (a.) Hungry; ravenous; as, predatory spirits. [Obs.]
Exercise . . . maketh the spirits more hot and predatory. -- Bacon.
Predatory (a.) (Zool.) Living by preying upon other animals; carnivorous.
Predatory (a.) Characterized by plundering or pillaging or marauding; "bands of marauding Indians"; "predatory warfare"; "a raiding party" [syn: {marauding}, {predatory}, {raiding}].
Predatory (a.) Living by preying on other animals especially by catching living prey; "a predatory bird"; "the rapacious wolf"; "raptorial birds"; "ravening wolves"; "a vulturine taste for offal" [syn: {predatory}, {rapacious}, {raptorial}, {ravening}, {vulturine}, {vulturous}].
Predatory (a.) Living by or given to victimizing others for personal gain; "predatory capitalists"; "a predatory, insensate society in which innocence and decency can prove fatal"- Peter S. Prescott; "a predacious kind of animal--the early geological gangster" -- W.E.Swinton [syn: {predaceous}, {predacious}, {predatory}].
Predawn (n.) 黎明前 The period before dawn.
Predawn (a.) (adv.) Variants: or less commonly Pre-dawn 黎明前的 Existing or occurring before dawn.
// A predawn attack.
// The predawn hours.
//… The gigantic telescope started scanning the predawn sky. -- Howard Blum
Prede (v. i.) To prey; to plunder.
Prede (n.) Prey; plunder; booty.
Predecay (n.) Premature decay.
Predecease (v. t.) 在……之前死亡；比……先死 To die sooner than. "If children predecease progenitors." -- Shak.
Predecease (n.) <罕> 先死 The death of one person or thing before another. [R.] -- Brougham.