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precession

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(prē ses̸h′ən, pri-)

noun

the act of preceding; precedence
Astron. precession of the equinoxes
Mech. an effect exhibited by a spinning body, as a top, when an applied torque tends to change the direction of its rotational axis, causing this axis generally to describe a cone and to turn at right angles to the direction of the torque

Origin: ME < LL praecessio < L praecedere, to precede

Related Forms:

precessional adjective

See precession in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

The act or state of preceding; precedence.
Physics The motion of the axis of a spinning body, such as the wobble of a spinning top, when there is an external force acting on the axis.
Astronomy
a. Precession of the equinoxes.
b. A slow gyration of the earth's axis around the pole of the ecliptic, caused mainly by the gravitational pull of the sun, moon, and other planets on the earth's equatorial bulge.

Origin:

Origin: Late Latin praecessiō, praecessiōn-

Origin: , from Latin praecessus

Origin: , past participle of praecēdere, to go before; see precede

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Related Forms:

pre·cesˈsion·al adjective

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