precipitation

Definition

Any or all of the forms of water particles, whether liquid or solid, that fall from the upper 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.

Etymology

From Middle French précipitation, from Latin praecipitātiō, praecipitātiōnem. By surface analysis, precipitate + -ion.

Example Sentences

• "South Korea’s Ministry of Environment said in a news release that no major precipitation was observed after the cloud seeding operation."
• "Some rain was expected to fall in Pennsylvania and South Jersey on Thursday, but no precipitation made it to the rest of New Jersey, New York City and most of New England -- all regions in desperate need of moisture following an extremely dry fall."
• "This type of bio-inspired material utilizes microbial calcite precipitation to heal cracks that develop autonomously, thereby enhancing the material’s durability and reducing maintenance costs."

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