Plain English Meaning

Water falling out of the sky in any form — rain, snow, hail, sleet, or drizzle.

Full Definition

Any form of water particles — liquid or solid — that forms in the atmosphere and falls to the surface of the earth. This includes rain, drizzle, snow, sleet, hail, and ice pellets.

Context Anchor

Pilots see this term in weather briefings, forecasts, airport weather reports, radar displays, and in-flight weather decisions.

Derivation

From the Latin praecipitare, meaning 'to throw down' or 'cast headlong.' That captures the idea well — precipitation is being thrown down from the atmosphere to the .