Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Precise
Pre-cise′
,Adj.
[L.
praecisus
cut off, brief, concise, p. p. of praecidere
to cut off in front, to cut off; prae
before + caedere
to cut: cf. F. précis
. Cf. Concise
.] 1.
Having determinate limitations; exactly or sharply defined or stated; definite; exact; nice; not vague or equivocal;
as,
. precise
rules of moralityThe law in this point is not
precise
. Bacon.
For the hour
Exacts our parting hence.
precise
Exacts our parting hence.
Milton.
2.
Strictly adhering or conforming to rule; very nice or exact; punctilious in conduct or ceremony; formal; ceremonious.
Addison.
He was ever
precise
in promise-keeping. Shakespeare
Syn. – Accurate; exact; definite; correct; scrupulous; punctilious; particular; nice; formal. See
– Accurate
. Pre-cise′ly
, adv.
Pre-cise′ness
, Noun.
Webster 1828 Edition
Precise
PRECI'SE
,Adj.
1.
Exact; nice; definite; having determinate limitations; not loose, vague, uncertain or equivocal; as precise rules of morality; precise directions for life and conduct. The law in this point is precise.
For the hour precise
Exacts our parting.
2.
Formal; superstitiously exact; excessively nice; punctilious in conduct or ceremony.Definition 2024
precise
precise
English
Alternative forms
- præcise (archaic)
Adjective
precise (comparative more precise, superlative most precise)
- Exact, accurate.
- 1921, Bertrand Russell, The Analysis of Mind:
- A memory is "precise" when the occurrences that would verify it are narrowly circumscribed: for instance, "I met Jones" is precise as compared to "I met a man." A memory is "accurate" when it is both precise and true, i.e. in the above instance, if it was Jones I met.
-
- (sciences) Of experimental results, consistent, clustered close together, agreeing with each other. This does not mean that they cluster near the true, correct, or accurate value.
- 2013 June 22, “Snakes and ladders”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, page 76:
- Risk is everywhere. […] For each [kind] there is a frighteningly precise measurement of just how likely it is to jump from the shadows and get you. “The Norm Chronicles” […] aims to help data-phobes find their way through this blizzard of risks.
-
Synonyms
- See also Wikisaurus:meticulous
Antonyms
- (exact, accurate): inexact, imprecise
- (consistent): inconsistent, varying
Derived terms
Translations
exact
|
|
(sciences) clustered close together
Verb
precise (third-person singular simple present precises, present participle precising, simple past and past participle precised)
- (used by non-native speakers or in jargons, transitive) To make or render precise.
Derived terms
Anagrams
Italian
Adjective
precise f pl
- feminine plural of preciso
Participle
precise f pl
- feminine plural of preciso
Verb
precise
- third-person singular past historic of precidere
Anagrams
Portuguese
Verb
precise
- First-person singular (eu) present subjunctive of precisar
- Third-person singular (ele, ela, also used with tu and você?) present subjunctive of precisar
- Third-person singular (você) affirmative imperative of precisar
- Third-person singular (você) negative imperative of precisar
Spanish
Verb
precise
- Formal second-person singular (usted) imperative form of precisar.
- First-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of precisar.
- Formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of precisar.
- Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted?) present subjunctive form of precisar.