precipitous

CEFRC1

/pɹɪˈsɪpɪtəs/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Very steep or happening suddenly and without care.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Hasty; rash; quick; sudden

Examples

  • On the top of the precipitous shore, looking out to sea, was a large castle.

  • Your actions may be overly precipitous.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
4
Parts of speech
1
Citations
3
Synonyms
5

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings
  1. Headlong

  2. Steep, like a precipice

More examples

In context
  • a precipitous cliff

  • a precipitous decline

  • a precipitous mountain

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The blank drop in the stock market caused panic among many investors.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

From oblique stem of Latin praeceps, praecipit- + -ous, from obsolete French précipiteux, from Vulgar Latin *praecipitosus, from praecipitō, from praeceps, praecipit- + -ō, from prae- (“before”) + caput (“head”). Equivalent to precipice (“steep cliff, brink”) + -ous.