precession
noun
Meaning
- Precedence.
- The wobbling motion of the axis of a spinning body when there is an external force acting on the axis.
- The slow gyration of the earth's axis around the pole of the ecliptic, caused mainly by the gravitational torque of the sun and moon.
- Any of several slow changes in an astronomical body's rotational or orbital parameters.
Etymology / origin
From Middle English precessioun, precession, from Medieval Latin prēcessiōn-, prēcessio, from Latin praecēdō.
- praecēdō(la)→
- praecessio(la-med)→
- precessioun(enm)→
- precession (English)
- Relations: inh, der, der
Related words
Descendant words
- prekessio(Finnish) (cog)
Sources
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