August 03, 2011
- precise (adjective)
- \prih-SYCE\
- What does it mean?
- 1 : exactly or sharply explained or stated2 : very exact3 : agreeing exactly with a rule or standard
- How do you use it?
- Dr. Arenstan explained that the museum has equipment so precise that it can measure the width of a single human hair.
- Are you a word wiz?
To be precise, only one of the following words is a synonym of today's Buzzword. Which word do you think means the same thing as "precise"?
"Accurate," "precise," "correct," and "exact" all mean "in agreement with truth, fact, or a standard." "Accurate" makes it clear that great care has been taken to make sure that something agrees with the facts (for instance, "an accurate description of the painting"). "Precise" stresses an even closer or more careful agreement with fact or with a certain standard (as in "the precise temperature of a cell"). "Correct" stresses the notion that something is free from error (as in "a correct answer"). "Exact" implies that something agrees very closely with fact or truth (for example "an exact measurement").
