Precession

/prɪˈsɛʃən/

Meaning & Definition

noun

The gradual change or movement in the orientation of the rotational axis of a rotating body.

The precession of the Earth's axis causes changes in the position of the stars over millennia.

A phenomenon in which the axis of a spinning object describes a conical shape due to gravitational or other external forces.

The precession of gyroscopes is an important concept in understanding navigation systems.

The slow movement of the axis of a spinning astronomical object, resulting in the appearance of a slow rotation in the direction of its axis.

The precession of the equinoxes affects the timing of the seasons over long periods of time.

An effect where a rapidly rotating object experiences a change in its rotation axis when subjected to an external torque.

The precession observed in some atomic nuclei can be studied using nuclear magnetic resonance.

Latin 'praecessio', from 'praecedere' meaning 'to go before'.

precession of the equinoxes

The gradual shift in the position of the equinoxes along the plane of the ecliptic.

axial precession

The precession of the Earth's rotation axis relative to the stars.

precessional motion

The motion of a rotating body characterized by a shift in its rotation axis.

rotation

The action of rotating around an axis.

orbit

The curved path of an object around a star, planet, or moon.

gravitational pull

The force exerted by a massive body attracting another body towards its center.

The wobble effect.

That spinning top has some serious precession going on!

Moving in circles.

The precession is just a fancy way of describing how my thoughts keep going in circles.