precept
1086
official who deals with the musical arrangements for the religious services, and sometimes directs the trained singers
pre·cept /'pri:sept/ n a guiding rule on which behaviour, a way of thought or action etc, is based: Just follow these few basic precepts and you won't go far wrong in life.
pre·cep·to·ri·al /ˌprɪ.sep'tɔ:ri.əl, ˌpri:sep-/ n AmE a lesson at a university or college which is a small discussion group and for which students usually do independent reading or study
pre·ces·sion /prɪ'seʃ.ən/ n [C;U] 1 also precession of the equinoxes — a slow westward change in the slope at which the earth turns round daily, which causes the times of the year at which day and night are both exactly 12 hours long to be slightly earlier each year 2 tech a sideways or circular movement of the slope of a spinning object —→al adj
pre·cinct /'pri:sɪŋkt/ n 1 BrE a part of a town planned for or limited to the stated use: a new shopping precinct (=an area containing only shops) 2 AmE a division of a town or city for election or police purposes
pre·cincts /'pri:sɪŋkts/ n [P(of)] 1 the space, often enclosed by walls, that surrounds an important building or group of buildings: It's quiet within the precincts of the old college. 2 rare the area around a particular place; neighbourhood
pre·ci·os·i·ty /ˌpreʃi'ɒsɪtɪl-'ɑ:-/ n [U] fml derog unnatural perfection of detail, especially in speech or pronunciation
pre·cious¹ /'preʃəs/ adj 1 of great value, especially because very expensive or much loved: some of our country's most precious military secrets | He poured a few drops of the precious liquid into the glass. | That old toy is my most precious (=dearly loved) possession. | My time is precious; I can only give you a few minutes. 2 derog (of manners, use of words etc) too concerned with perfection or unimportant details; unnaturally delicate 3 [A] infml (used for giving force to an expression of annoyance) worthless: 'Stop using that pen – it's mine!' 'Take your precious pen, then!' —→ly adv —→ness n [U]
precious² adv infml very: You'll get precious little sympathy from her. | There were precious few left.
precious³ n infml becoming rare (used when speaking to someone you love): Come here, (my) precious!
precious 'metal n [C;U] a rare and valuable metal: Gold and silver are precious metals. → compare BASE METAL
precious 'stone n a rare and valuable jewel: Diamonds and emeralds are precious stones. → compare SEMIPRECIOUS
pre·cip·ice /'presəpīs/ n a dangerously steep side of a high rock, mountain, or cliff: (fig.) In 1939 everyone felt Europe was on the edge of the precipice. (=in very great danger)
pre·cip·i·tate¹ /prə'sɪpɪteɪt/ v 1 [T] fml to make (an unwanted event) happen sooner; HASTEN: Fears about the solvency of the banks precipitated the great economic crash. 2 [T+adv/prep, especially into] fml a) to throw forwards or downwards with great force: The cart overturned and precipitated us into the ditch. b) to force suddenly into the stated condition or situation: The border incident precipitated the two countries into war. → compare PLUNGE 3 [I;T (OUT)] tech (in chemistry) to separate or cause (solid matter) to separate from a liquid by chemical action
pre·cip·i·tate² /prə'sɪpɪtət/ n [C;U] tech (in chemistry) solid matter that has been separated from a liquid by chemical action → compare PRECIPITATION
precipitate³ also precipitous — adj fml acting or done with too much hurry or without care or thought; IMPULSIVE: They acted with precipitate haste. | She made a rather precipitate departure. —→ly adv
pre·cip·i·ta·tion /prɪˌsɪpɪ'teʃən/ n 1 [U] fml or tech the act of precipitating or state of being precipitated 2 [U] tech (the amount of) rain, snow etc which has fallen onto the ground: There will be precipitation on northern hills tonight. 3 [U] fml derog unwisely hurried action 4 [C;U] tech (in chemistry) matter that has precipitated (PRECIPITATE) naturally → compare PRECIPITATE
pre·cip·i·tous /prə'sɪpɪtəs/ adj 1 dangerously high or steep: A precipitous path led down the cliff. 2 PRECIPITATE —→ly adv —→ness n [U]
pré·cis¹ /'preɪsi:ɪlpre'si:/ n pl. précis /'preɪsi:ɪzlpre'si:z/
[(of)] a shortened form of a piece of writing or of what someone has said, giving only the main points
précis² v précised /'preisi:d||pre'si:d/ present participle pré·cising /'preisi:ɪŋ||pre'si:ɪŋ/ [T] to make a précis of
pre·cise /prɪ'sas/ adj 1 exact in form, detail, measurements, time etc: very precise calculations | Our train leaves at about half past nine – 09.33 to be precise. 2 [A] particular; exact; VERY: At the precise moment that I put my foot on the step, the bus started. 3 sometimes derog careful and correct about small details: A lawyer needs a precise mind. | a very precise old lady → opposite IMPRECISE
pre·cise·ly /prɪ'saɪsli/ adv 1 exactly: The train leaves at ten o'clock precisely. 2 yes, that is correct; you are right: 'So you think we ought to wait until autumn?' 'Precisely.'
pre·ci·sion¹ /prɪ'sɪʒən/ also pre·cise·ness /prɪ'saɪsnəs/ n [U] exactness: Scientific instruments have to be made with great precision. → opposite IMPRECISION
precision² adj [A] 1 made or done with great exactness: a precision landing | precision bombing 2 used for producing very exact results: Precision instruments are used to help pilots in guiding their aircraft.
pre·clude /prɪ'klu:d/ v [T(from)] fml to prevent; make impossible: The temporary cease-fire agreement does not preclude possible retaliatory attacks later. | I wouldn't want to preclude the possibility of a small payment being made. (=I wouldn't want to say that that could not happen.) → compare PREEMPT —→clusion /'klu:ʒən/ n [U]
pre·co·cious /prɪ'kəʊʃəs/ adj showing unusually early development of mind or body: a precocious child who could already talk well at the age of one | Her precocious mathematical ability astounded her parents. —→ly adv —→ness also -city /prɪ'kɒsɪtɪl-'ka:-/ fml n [U]
pre·cog·ni·tion /ˌpri:kɒg'nɪʃənl-kɑ:g-/ n [U(of)] tech knowledge of something that will happen in the future, especially as received in the form of a direct message to the mind which cannot be explained
pre·con·ceived /ˌpri:kən'si:vd/ adj (of an idea, opinion etc) formed in advance, without (enough) knowledge or experience: To appreciate his work you have to put aside any preconceived notions about how paintings should look.
pre·con·cep·tion /ˌpri:kən'sepʃən/ n [I(about)] an opinion formed in advance, without actual knowledge: Most of my preconceptions about Jane were proved wrong when I eventually met her.
pre·con·di·tion /ˌpri:kən'dɪʃən/ n [I(of)] something that must be agreed to in advance if something else is to happen: He made it a precondition of the talks that they should be held in a neutral country.
pre·cook /ˌpri:'kʊk/ v [T] to cook (food) partly or completely in advance, especially so as to be heated up again later for eating
pre·cur·sor /prɪ'k:sər ||-'kɜ:r-/ n [(of, to)] fml something that comes before another and leads to it or is developed into it: The precursor of the modern car was a horseless carriage with a petrol engine. | Rapidly rising inflation has traditionally been a precursor to recession.
pre·date /pri:'deɪt/ v [T(by)] to be earlier in history than; ANTEDATE: This coin predates the Roman occupation.
pred·a·tor /'predətər/ n 1 a predatory animal or bird 2 a predatory person
pred·a·to·ry /'predətərɪl-tɔ:ri/ adj 1 also pre·da·ceous, pre·da·cious /prɪ'deɪʃəs/ fml rare — (especially of a wild animal) that kills and eats other animals 2 having the habit of trying to take other people's property: (fig.) Watch out for that predatory female – she's after everyone else's husband!
pre·de·cease /ˌpri:dɪ'si:s/ v [[T] law to die before (someone): If you should predecease your wife ...
pre·de·ces·sor /'pri:dɪsesər ||'pre-/ n [(of)] 1 a person who held a position before someone else: Our new doctor is much younger than his predecessor. 2 something formerly used, but which has now been changed for something else: This is the fifth plan we've made and it's no better than any of its predecessors. → compare SUCCESSOR
pre·des·ti·na·tion /ˌpriˌdestɪ'neɪʃən, ˌpri:des-/ n [U] 1 the belief that God has decided everything that will happen, and that no human effort can change things →