\Pre*cip"i*tate\, a. [L. praecipitatus, p. p. of
praecipitare to precipitate, fr. praeceps headlong. See
{Precipice}.]
1. Overhasty; rash; as, the king was too precipitate in
   declaring war. --Clarendon.
2. Lacking due deliberation or care; hurried; said or done
   before the time; as, a precipitate measure. ``The rapidity
   of our too precipitate course.'' --Landor.
3. Falling, flowing, or rushing, with steep descent;
   headlong.
         Precipitate the furious torrent flows. --Prior.
4. Ending quickly in death; brief and fatal; as, a
   precipitate case of disease. [Obs.] --Arbuthnot.

\Pre*cip"i*tate\, n. [NL. praecipitatum: cf. F.
pr['e]cipit['e].]
1. (Chem.) An insoluble substance separated from a solution
   in a concrete state by the action of some reagent added to
   the solution, or of some force, such as heat or cold. The
   precipitate may fall to the bottom (whence the name), may
   be diffused through the solution, or may float at or near
   the surface.
{Red precipitate} (Old. Chem), mercuric oxide ({HgO}) a heavy
   red crystalline powder obtained by heating mercuric
   nitrate, or by heating mercury in the air. Prepared in the
   latter manner, it was the {precipitate per se} of the
   alchemists.
{White precipitate} (Old Chem.)
   (a) A heavy white amorphous powder ({NH2.HgCl}) obtained
       by adding ammonia to a solution of mercuric chloride
       or corrosive sublimate; -- formerly called also
       {infusible white precipitate}, and now {amido-mercuric
       chloride}.
   (b) A white crystalline substance obtained by adding a
       solution of corrosive sublimate to a solution of sal
       ammoniac (ammonium chloride); -- formerly called also
       {fusible white precipitate}.

\Pre*cip"i*tate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p.
{Precipitated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Precipitating}.]
1. To throw headlong; to cast down from a precipice or
   height.
         She and her horse had been precipitated to the
         pebbled region of the river.          --W. Irving.
2. To urge or press on with eager haste or violence; to cause
   to happen, or come to a crisis, suddenly or too soon; as,
   precipitate a journey, or a conflict.
         Back to his sight precipitates her steps. --Glover.
         If they be daring, it may precipitate their designs,
         and prove dangerous.                  --Bacon.
3. (Chem.) To separate from a solution, or other medium, in
   the form of a precipitate; as, water precipitates camphor
   when in solution with alcohol.
         The light vapor of the preceding evening had been
         precipitated by the cold.             --W. Irving.

\Pre*cip"i*tate\, v. i.
1. To dash or fall headlong. [R.]
         So many fathom down precipitating.    --Shak.
2. To hasten without preparation. [R.]
3. (Chem.) To separate from a solution as a precipitate. See
   {Precipitate}, n.