English Explanatory Dictionary

precise

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Both exact and accurate.
  2. Consistent, clustered close together, agreeing with each other (this does not mean that they cluster near the true, correct, or accurate value).
  3. Adhering too much to rules; prim or punctilious.
verb
  1. To make or render precise; to specify.

Pronunciation

/pɹɪˈsaɪs/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-precise.wav

Word forms

precise more precise preciser most precise precisest præcise precises precising precised

Etymology

From Middle French précis, from Latin praecīsus, perfect passive participle of praecīdere, from prae- (“before, in front”) + caedere (“cut; strike”), cognate with hit. Related to incise. Doublet of précis.

Antonyms

inexact imprecise inconsistent varying

Related words

repeatable

Derived words

hyperprecise nonprecise overprecise precisely preciseness precisian precisification precisify prissy pseudoprecise superprecise to be precise ultraprecise unprecise precising definition
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