pre ‧ car ‧ i ‧ ous /prɪˈkeəriəs $ -ˈker-/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: precarius 'got by asking, uncertain' ]
1 . a precarious situation or state is one which may very easily or quickly become worse:
Her health remained precarious, despite the treatment.
the company’s precarious financial position
2 . likely to fall, or likely to cause someone to fall:
a precarious mountain trail
—precariously adverb :
a cup of tea balanced precariously on her knee
—precariousness noun [uncountable]