definitely or strictly stated, defined, or fixed: precise directions.
2.
being exactly that and neither more nor less: a precise temperature; a precise amount.
3.
being just that and no other: the precise dress she had wanted.
4.
definite or exact in statement, as a person.
5.
carefully distinct: precise articulation.
6.
exact in measuring, recording, etc.: a precise instrument.
7.
excessively or rigidly particular: precise observance of regulations; precise grooming.
[Origin: 1350–1400; ME < L praecīsus curtailed, brief, orig. ptp. of praecīdere to cut off, cut short, equiv. to prae-pre-+ -cīsus, comb. form of caesus, ptp. of caedere to cut]
Clearly expressed or delineated; definite: The victim gave a precise description of the suspect.
Exact, as in performance, execution, or amount; accurate or correct: a precise measurement; a precise instrument.
Strictly distinguished from others; very: at that precise moment.
Distinct and correct in sound or meaning: precise pronunciation; precise prose.
Conforming strictly to rule or proper form: "The setting up of this Maypole was a lamentable spectacle to the precise separatists that lived at New Plymouth"(Thomas Morton).
[Middle English, exact, from Old French precis, condensed, precisely fixed, from Latin praecīsus, past participle of praecīdere, to shorten : prae-, pre- + caedere, to cut; see kaə-id- in Indo-European roots.]
c.1450 (implied in precisely), from M.Fr. précis "condensed, cut short" (14c.), from M.L. precisus, from L. præcisus "abridged, cut off," pp. of præcidere "to cut off, shorten," from præ- "in front" + cædere "to cut" (see cement). Precision is first attested 1640, from M.Fr. precision, from L. præcisionem (nom. præcisio) "a cutting off," from præcisus.
sharply exact or accurate or delimited; "a precise mind"; "specified a precise amount"; "arrived at the precise moment" [ant: imprecise]
2.
(of ideas, images, representations, expressions) characterized by perfect conformity to fact or truth ; strictly correct; "a precise image"; "a precise measurement" [syn: accurate]
Ac"cu*rate\, a. [L. accuratus, p. p. and a., fr. accurare to take care of; ad + curare to take care, cura care. See Cure.]1. In exact or careful conformity to truth, or to some standard of requirement, the result of care or pains; free from failure, error, or defect; exact; as, an accurate calculator; an accurate measure; accurate expression, knowledge, etc. 2. Precisely fixed; executed with care; careful. [Obs.] Those conceive the celestial bodies have more accurate influences upon these things below. --Bacon. Syn: Correct; exact; just; nice; particular. Usage: Accurate, Correct, Exact, Precise. We speak of a thing as correct with reference to some rule or standard of comparison; as, a correct account, a correct likeness, a man of correct deportment. We speak of a thing as accurate with reference to the care bestowed upon its execution, and the increased correctness to be expected therefrom; as, an accurate statement, an accurate detail of particulars. We speak of a thing as exact with reference to that perfected state of a thing in which there is no defect and no redundance; as, an exact coincidence, the exact truth, an exact likeness. We speak of a thing as precise when we think of it as strictly conformed to some rule or model, as if cut down thereto; as a precise conformity instructions; precisely right; he was very precise in giving his directions.
![[P]](http://cache.lexico.com/g/d/premium_mh.gif){kind=small}
Audio Help [pri-sahys] Pronunciation Key 
