rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryprecipitationFalling water
noun

precipitation

prih-sip-ih-TAY-shun/prɪˌsɪpɪˈteɪʃn/

Water falling from the atmosphere as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

Precipitation falls from the cloud onto the earth below.

A small gray rain cloud releases unmistakable falling raindrops onto a patch of earth and shallow puddle, meteorological natural scene, no face or icons.
Etymology
precipitLatinto throw or fall headlong
+ationLatinaction or process

From a verb meaning “to throw or fall headlong,” precipitation first named a casting down. The broader sense of falling from a height connects that image to atmospheric water falling to earth.

In context

GeoScience Videos0:33
Clouds lose their moisture through precipitation. Rain falling on land can run off
Porosity and Permeability

More examples

  • Snow accounted for most of the winter precipitation.
  • The gauge measured total precipitation.
  • The region receives little annual precipitation.

Forms

precipitation

Similar words

rainfall
Rainfall is liquid precipitation; precipitation also includes snow, sleet, and hail.
condensation
Condensation forms liquid droplets from vapor; precipitation falls from the atmosphere to the surface.