Precipice

//ˈpɹɛsɪpɪs// noun

noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A very steep cliff.

    "I resolved to remove my tent from the place where it stood, which was just under the hanging precipice of the hill; and which, if it should be shaken again, would certainly fall upon my tent[…]"

  2. 2
    a very steep cliff wordnet
  3. 3
    The brink of a dangerous situation. figuratively

    "to stand on a precipice"

  4. 4
    A headlong fall or descent. obsolete

Synonyms

All synonyms
cliffbluffcliffcliffdropcliffdropcrag

Example

More examples

"Another step, and you will fall down the precipice."

Etymology

First attested in 1598, from Middle French precipice, from Latin praecipitium (“a steep place”), from praeceps (“steep”), from prae + caput (“head”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap- (“head”). Distantly related to precept through Latin praecipiō (“to teach”), from prae + capiō (“take”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap-, *keh₂p- (“to hold; to seize”).

Related phrases

precipice bond

More for "precipice"

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.