adjective

precise

Exact and carefully expressed or measured.

The instructions give precise measurements for cutting each wooden shelf.

Etymology

Latin praecisus means cut off or shortened. Precision develops the idea of trimming away what is unnecessary or vague until an expression or measure is exact.

More examples

  • Can you give me the precise location of the leak?
  • Her precise wording leaves no room for misunderstanding.
  • This digital scale is more precise than our old one.

Forms

precise · more precise · most precise

precision noun — The quality of being exact.

precisely adverb — In an exact and careful manner.

Similar words

accurate
Emphasizes correctness rather than fine detail or careful expression.
exact
Stresses complete agreement with a fact, amount, or standard.