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precipitous

Adjective
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Very steep or abrupt; in poetry, evokes danger, sudden change, or dramatic elevation.

Detailed Definition
Used of land or a drop that falls sharply. In poetry, it often adds danger or suddenness to a scene, as here where the speaker describes a risky climb.
Example
Example in poetry:
“Scrambling a precipitous cliff, sharp claws to escape,” emphasizes a sheer, dangerous ascent; “The precipitous path / fell away beneath the goat’s small hooves” uses the adjective for steep terrain; “At the precipice of grief, her thoughts took a precipitous turn” extends the word metaphorically; “Down precipitous streets, rain hurried toward the harbor” gives an urban image
Additional Notes
In the line "Scrambling a precipitous cliff," the adjective is less common than everyday words and may need looking up.; Found in the poem, Savour Every Moment by Richard
Also Known As
Steep Descent Dramatic Drop Precarious Edge
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