Meaning & Definition of word "Precession"
Precession
/prɪˈsɛʃən/
noun:
- 1. The gradual change or movement in the orientation of the rotational axis of a rotating body.
- Example: The precession of the Earth's axis causes changes in the position of the stars over millennia.
- 2. A phenomenon in which the axis of a spinning object describes a conical shape due to gravitational or other external forces.
- Example: The precession of gyroscopes is an important concept in understanding navigation systems.
- 3. 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.
- Example: The precession of the equinoxes affects the timing of the seasons over long periods of time.
- 4. An effect where a rapidly rotating object experiences a change in its rotation axis when subjected to an external torque.
- Example: The precession observed in some atomic nuclei can be studied using nuclear magnetic resonance.
Etymology
●Latin 'praecessio', from 'praecedere' meaning 'to go before'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
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.
Related Words
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.
Slang Meanings of precession
Meaning: The wobble effect.
● Example Sentence: That spinning top has some serious precession going on!
Meaning: Moving in circles.
● Example Sentence: The precession is just a fancy way of describing how my thoughts keep going in circles.