Precise Cut Exact Time Pre·Cise Adjective Latin Praecidere

pre·cise
\\pri-ˈsīs\\ adjective1. exactly or sharply defined or stated
2. minutely exact
3. strictly conforming to a pattern, standard, or convention
4. distinguished from every other
    at just that precise moment
Synonyms: see
• pre·cise·ness noun

precise
  mid-15c., from M.Fr. précis "condensed, cut short" (14c.), from M.L. precisus, from L. praecisus "abridged, cut off," pp. of praecidere "to cut off, shorten," from prae- "in front" + caedere "to cut" (see cement; for Latin vowel change, see acquisition).

☞ precise
pre·cise / pri5sais / adjective1. clear and accurate
   准确的；确切的；精确的；明确的
   SYN 

exact

:
   precise details / instructions / measurements
   确切的细节；明确的指令；精确的尺寸
   Can you give a more precise definition of the word?
   你能给这个词下个更确切的定义吗？
   I can be reasonably precise about the time of the incident.
   我可以相当准确地说出这件事发生的时间。
⇨ note at

true

2. [only before noun] used to emphasize that sth happens at a particular time or in a particular way
   (强调时间或方式等)就,恰好:
   We were just talking about her when, at that precise moment, she walked in.
   我们正谈论着她,恰好在这个时候,她走进来了。
   Doctors found it hard to establish the precise nature of her illness.
   医生们难以判定她的确切病因。
3. taking care to be exact and accurate, especially about small details
   细致的；精细的；认真的；一丝不苟的
   SYN 

meticulous

:
   a skilled and precise worker
   熟练而认真的工人
   small, precise movements
   细微的动作
  (disapproving) She's rather prim and precise.
   她拘谨严肃,一丝不苟。
 IDIOMS 
▪ to be (more) pre'cise
   used to show that you are giving more detailed and accurate information about sth you have just mentioned
   确切地说；准确地说:
   The shelf is about a metre long—well, 98cm, to be precise.
   架子长约一米。嗯,精确地说,是 98 厘米。

precise adj.

pre·cise
I. \prēˈsīs, prə̇ˈs-\ adjective
(sometimes -er/-est)
Etymology: Middle French precis, from Latin praecisus, past participle of praecidere to cut off, shorten, from prae- pre- + -cidere (from caedere to cut) — more at
1.
 a.
  (1) : characterized by a definite often terse statement or specific meaning : devoid of anything vague, equivocal, or uncertain
   < this is no time for generalities and I will venture to be precise — Sir Winston Churchill >
   < find a more precise term than good to describe the work >
  (2) : measured or measuring in mathematically often minutely exact units
   < the precise velocity of the satellite >
   < precise figures recording the racer's time to the hundredth of a second >
   < the precise techniques of microchemistry >
   < a precise balance >
  (3) : having distinct often close limits : exactly delimited
   < energy … released in precise channels, as when a current causes the glow in a bulb — E.A.Armstrong >
   < determine the precise meaning of the term >
   < standardization through precise control of processing >
  (4) : exact to a point : being without deviation :
   < hit the mark with precise accuracy >
   < that totalitarianism is the precise opposite of anarchy >
 b. : developed or indicated in specific or minute detail
  < working out the precise relationship of the languages — Edward Sapir >
2. : conforming strictly to an exact pattern or standard : shaped, arranged, or performed with minute conformity to a pattern
 < flying a beautiful, tight, precise formation — Walter Bernstein >
: rigorous in observing a rule, code, or convention : ,
 < a precise, magisterial person … incapable of letting the most trivial mistake go uncorrected — Gerald Bullett >
specifically :
3. : distinguished from every other :
 < the precise task for which he was born — L.P.Smith >
 < arrived just at that precise moment >
4. : sharply distinct in appearance or sound
 < the precise images in the camera finder >
 < speaks … with a precise British accent — Current Biography >
Synonyms: see
II. transitive verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)

: to make precise : state, define, or determine exactly or strictly :