Adjacent Words

Precise definitions

	Tweet

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

PRECI'SE, a. [L. proecisus, from proecido, to cut off; proe and coedo; literally, cut or pared away, that is, pared to smoothness or exactness.]
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.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: sharply exact or accurate or delimited; "a precise mind"; "specified a precise amount"; "arrived at the precise moment" [ant: imprecise]
2: (of ideas, images, representations, expressions) characterized by perfect conformity to fact or truth ; strictly correct; "a precise image"; "a precise measurement" [syn: accurate, exact, precise]

Merriam Webster's

adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French precis, from Latin praecisus, past participle of praecidere to cut off, from prae- + caedere to cut Date: 15th century 1. exactly or sharply defined or stated 2. minutely exact 3. strictly conforming to a pattern, standard, or convention 4. distinguished from every other <at just that precise moment> Synonyms: see correct • preciseness noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. 1 a accurately expressed. b definite, exact. 2 punctilious; scrupulous in being exact, observing rules, etc. 3 identical, exact (at that precise moment). Derivatives: preciseness n. Etymology: F précis -ise f. L praecidere praecis- cut short (as PRAE-, caedere cut)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Precise Pre*cise", a. [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. pr['e]cis. Cf. Concise.] 1. Having determinate limitations; exactly or sharply defined or stated; definite; exact; nice; not vague or equivocal; as, precise rules of morality. The law in this point is not precise. --Bacon. For the hour 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. --Shak. Syn: Accurate; exact; definite; correct; scrupulous; punctilious; particular; nice; formal. See Accurate. -- Pre*cise"ly, adv. -- Pre*cise"ness, n.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

1. You use precise to emphasize that you are referring to an exact thing, rather than something vague. I can remember the precise moment when my daughter came to see me and her new baby brother in hospital... The precise location of the wreck was discovered in 1988... He was not clear on the precise nature of his mission... = exact ADJ: ADJ n [emphasis] 2. Something that is precise is exact and accurate in all its details. He does not talk too much and what he has to say is precise and to the point. ADJ 3. You say 'to be precise' to indicate that you are giving more detailed or accurate information than you have just given. More than a week ago, Thursday evening to be precise, Susanne was at her evening class... PHRASE: cl/group PHR

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

a. 1. Exact, correct, definite, strict, express, distinct, explicit, severe, well-defined, accurate, nice, pointed, unequivocal. 2. Scrupulous, strict, careful, exact (in conduct). 3. Formal, ceremonious, stiff, rigid, starch, starched, prim, punctilious, finical.

Moby Thesaurus

absolute, accurate, appreciative, attentive, authentic, be precise, careful, censorious, certain, choicy, choosy, circumscribed, close, concrete, conscientious, constant, correct, critical, defined, definite, delicate, demanding, descend to particulars, detail, detailed, determinate, different, differential, direct, discriminate, discriminating, discriminative, distinct, distinctive, distinguished, distinguishing, esoteric, especial, even, exact, exacting, exceptional, exigent, explicit, express, exquisite, extraordinary, faithful, fastidious, fine, finical, finicking, finicky, fixed, full, fussy, genteel, individual, individualize, inerrable, inerrant, infallible, inflexible, inner, intimate, itemize, limited, literal, literatim, make precise, mathematical, methodical, meticulous, micrometrically precise, microscopic, minute, narrow, nice, noteworthy, orderly, particular, particularize, peculiarize, perfect, perfectionistic, personal, personalize, picayune, picky, pinpoint, precious, precisian, precisianistic, precisionist, precisionistic, prig, priggish, prim, prissy, private, proper, prudish, punctilious, punctual, puristic, puritanic, puritanical, refined, religious, religiously exact, respective, restricted, right, rigid, rigorous, scientific, scientifically exact, scrupulous, scrutinizing, selective, sensitive, several, severe, singular, solipsistic, special, specialize, specific, spell out, square, straitlaced, strict, stringent, stuffy, subtle, tactful, true, truthful, unambiguous, unbending, unconditional, undeviating, unequivocal, unerring, unyielding, veracious, verbatim, very, well-defined, word-for-word