precise

Definitions

prae- (in front) + cis (cut) = 'cut off at the front,' trimmed exactly to the edge with nothing left hanging over. That image of a clean, deliberate trim became the meaning 'exact, with no margin of error.' When you give a precise figure, you have cut away all the approximation.

Why It Means This

Precise hides the same blade as homicide. Latin praecidere meant to 'cut off in front' — to lop something short at exactly the right place. From cutting cleanly came the idea of being exact: a precise measurement leaves no ragged edge of doubt. English keeps the cutting metaphor alive in the contrast with vague, where the outline is blurry rather than sharply cut.

Common Collocations

• 1.precise figure精确的数字
• 2.precise location确切的位置
• 3.to be precise确切地说
• 4.precise measurement精确测量

Example Sentences

• 1.

  Can you give me the precise time the train leaves?

• 2.

  The instructions were precise, leaving no room for error.

• 3.

  At that precise moment, the lights went out.

Easily Confused

precise vs accurate — accurate means correct, matching the truth (an accurate answer). precise means finely exact, with sharp detail (precise to the millimetre). A measurement can be precise (very detailed: 3.14159) yet inaccurate (the true value is 2.7). Detailed/sharp → precise; correct → accurate.