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precise definition

pre·cise (prē sīs′, pri-)

adjective

  1. strictly defined; accurately stated; definite
  2. speaking definitely or distinctly
  3. with no variation; minutely exact the precise amount
    1. that strictly conforms to usage, rules, etc.; scrupulous; fastidious
    2. too fastidious; finicky

Etymology: MFr précis < L praecisus, pp. of praecidere, to cut off, be brief < prae-, before (see pre-) + caedere, to cut (see -cide)

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

precise Synonyms

precise

modif.

  1. Exact

    accurate, correct, well-defined, explicit; see accurate 1, 2, definite 1, 2.

  2. Being that and no other

    exact, very, specific; see definite 1.

  3. Fussily or prudishly careful

    fastidious, finicky, rigid, inflexible; see careful, severe 1. See syn. study at accurate, explicit.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

precise Usage Examples

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • keep: Keep content precise, relevant and too the point.

Modifies a noun

  • definition: The precise definition of the memory model is often not given, however, or is hidden away in obscure technical manuals.

Modifying Another Word

  • mathematically: The first dances are very symmetrical within the spirit of Bach's mathematically precise manner.

Used with adjective complement

  • become: This results in the statistics becoming less precise as the sub-sampling is increased.
precise usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

precise quotes

A sweet disorder in the dress 400 Kindles in clothes a wantonness: A lawn about the shoulders thrown Into a fine distraction† A careless shoe-string, in whose tie I see a wild civility: Do more bewitch me, than when Art Is too precise in every part.

-Herrick, Robert

precise quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"precise." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/precise>

APA Style

precise. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/precise

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