a cause of a particular action or event 起因 the immediate precipitants of the conflict were a succession of undisciplined actions. 一系列无纪律行为是冲突的直接起因。 ■(chiefly Psychology)a cause or stimulus which precipitates a particular condition (主心理)病因 depression may be a precipitant in many cases. 抑郁症可能是许多疾病的诱因。 ■(Chemistry)a substance that causes the precipitation of a specified substance (化)沉淀剂 a protein precipitant. 蛋白沉淀剂。
派生 precipitance noun 语源
early 17th cent.: from obsolete French précipitant 'precipitating', present participle of précipiter