英语词汇词典 | 单词含义、定义和示例
To move with high, springy steps, often to show off or attract attention.
"The horse pranced around the field gracefully."
A trick that is intended to be funny but not harmful.
"They played a harmless prank on their friend during the party."
to talk foolishly or at tedious length about something
"He would prate endlessly about his minor achievements."
to talk at length in a foolish or inconsequential way
"The children would prattle on about their games."
a large marine crustacean similar to shrimp but typically bigger
"The chef prepared delicious prawn curry with coconut milk."
to speak to a deity, especially for help or thanks
"Every night, she prays for her family’s safety."
a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or another deity
"She recited a prayer before the meal."
to deliver a religious or moral talk, often in a church setting
"The pastor preached about forgiveness and kindness."
a preliminary statement, especially the introduction to a formal document
"The preamble of the constitution outlines its guiding principles."
not securely held; dangerously unstable or uncertain
"The climber was in a precarious position on the edge of the cliff."
a measure taken in advance to prevent harm or danger
"You should take precaution when crossing a busy road."
came before something in time, order, or position
"Dark clouds preceded the heavy rainfall."
the condition of being considered more important than someone or something else; priority
"Safety takes precedence over speed in this factory."
An earlier event or decision that serves as a guide or example for future similar situations.
"The judge’s ruling set a new precedent for similar cases."
Relating to, or serving as, a precedent; having authority as an example.
"The court’s decision has precedential value."
A general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought.
"Honesty is a fundamental precept in all religions."
The slow movement of the axis of a spinning body around another axis, often referring to Earth's rotation.
"Astronomers study the precession of the equinoxes."
A district or area within the boundaries of a city, often for police or electoral purposes.
"She went to vote at her local precinct."
Excessive refinement or affected elegance in language, style, or behavior.
"The author's preciosity made the novel difficult to read for some audiences."
of great value; highly esteemed or cherished
"This ring is very precious to my grandmother."
A very steep cliff or a situation of great danger.
"The hikers stood at the edge of the precipice, gazing into the valley below."
As a noun: a substance that causes a substance to be deposited from a solution; as an adjective: acting hastily or impulsively.
"The chemist added a precipitant to the solution to observe the reaction."
As a verb: to cause an event or situation, often suddenly or prematurely; as a noun: a solid formed in a chemical solution; as an adjective: done hastily.
"The government's decision to raise taxes precipitated widespread protests."
Moisture that falls from the atmosphere as rain, snow, sleet, or hail; or the process of being precipitated.
"Heavy precipitation is expected in the northern region tomorrow."
Extremely steep or sudden; done quickly without careful consideration.
"The hikers struggled to climb the precipitous slope."
a short summary of a text or speech
"She wrote a précis of the lecture for her classmates."
Marked by exactness and accuracy of expression or detail.
"She gave precise instructions for the experiment."
in exact terms; without vagueness
"She explained the process precisely."
The quality of being exact, accurate, and careful.
"The surgeon operated with great precision."
The technique of conducting agricultural work using advanced technology.
"Precision agriculture optimizes resource use and increases efficiency."
To prevent something from happening; to make impossible.
"Heavy rain precluded the possibility of a picnic."
Showing advanced development or maturity at an unusually early age.
"The precocious child was reading novels at the age of five."
Something or someone that comes before another and indicates the approach of something else.
"The steam engine was a precursor to modern trains."
An animal that hunts and kills other animals for food.
"Lions are powerful predators in the savannah."
Relating to animals that prey on others; exploiting or victimizing others for personal gain.
"The predatory bird swooped down on its prey."
A person who held a position or office before the current holder.
"The new CEO thanked her predecessor for his service."
to determine or decide something in advance, often regarded as being fixed by fate or divine will
"They believed their paths were predestined by fate."
to establish or decide something in advance
"The outcome of the match seemed predetermined."
a difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation
"She found herself in a difficult predicament."
noun: the part of a sentence that tells something about the subject; verb: to base or establish something on a particular idea
"His theory is predicated on sound research."
to say what will happen in the future based on knowledge or reasoning
"Experts predict a rise in fuel prices."
able to be predicted or foreseen
"His reactions were predictable based on his past behavior."
A statement about what will happen in the future based on knowledge or evidence.
"Her prediction about the weather turned out to be accurate."
A strong liking or preference for something.
"She has a predilection for classical music."
To make someone more likely to behave in a certain way or be affected by something.
"His genetics may predispose him to diabetes."
Likely or inclined to be affected by something in advance.
"She is predisposed to trust people easily."
a tendency or inclination to behave in a particular way
"She has a predisposition to anxiety."
The state of being greater in number, strength, or importance.
"The predominance of online shopping has changed retail forever."
