Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Precipitation has 7 different meanings across 1 category:
the quantity of water falling to earth at a specific place within a specified period of time
"the storm brought several inches of precipitation"
the process of forming a chemical precipitate
"The rapid mixing of silver nitrate and sodium chloride caused immediate precipitation of solid silver chloride from the solution."
the falling to earth of any form of water (rain or snow or hail or sleet or mist)
"The heavy precipitation from last night's storm left puddles across the entire neighborhood."
the act of casting down or falling headlong from a height
"The ancient legend describes the tragic precipitation of the hero from the crumbling tower after his final betrayal."
an unexpected acceleration or hastening
"he is responsible for the precipitation of his own demise"
overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)
"he soon regretted his haste"
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.
"The heavy precipitation last night turned the streets into rivers before sunrise."
In plain English: Precipitation is any form of water, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, that falls from clouds to the ground.
"The heavy precipitation caused flooding in several neighborhoods last night."
Usage: Use precipitation to refer specifically to any form of moisture falling from clouds as rain, snow, hail, or sleet. Do not use it interchangeably with "rain" when you mean only liquid water, since the term encompasses all solid and liquid forms combined.
The word precipitation comes from the Middle French term précipitation, which was borrowed from the Latin praecipitātiō. Originally meaning a throwing down or falling headlong, it entered English to describe rain, snow, and other forms of water falling from clouds.