pre ‧ cise W3 AC /prɪˈsaɪs/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ precise ≠ ↑ imprecise , ↑ precision ; noun : ↑ precision ≠ ↑ imprecision ; adverb : ↑ precisely ≠ ↑ imprecisely ]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: French ; Origin: précis , from Latin praecisus , from praecidere 'to cut off' ]
1 . precise information, details etc are exact, clear, and correct SYN exact :
precise sales figures
It was difficult to get precise information.
‘She’s a lot older than you, isn’t she?’ ‘Fifteen years, to be precise.’
2 . [only before noun] used to emphasize that you are referring to an exact thing SYN exact :
At that precise moment, her husband walked in.
The precise cause of the disease is unknown.
the precise location of the ship
the precise nature of their agreement
3 . someone who is precise is very careful about small details or about the way they behave:
a precise careful woman
with precise movements of his hands
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ exact an exact number, amount, or time is completely correct and is no more and no less than it should be:
The exact weight of the baby at birth was 3.2 kg.
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The exact time is 8:16 a.m.
▪ precise precise information is based on clear and exact figures or measurements, especially when it is important that no mistakes are made:
We need to know your precise location.
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It’s difficult to be precise about the number of deaths caused by smoking.
▪ accurate completely correct because all the details are true:
The witness tried to give an accurate description of what she had seen.
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accurate financial forecasts