the motion of a spinning body, such as a top, gyroscope, or planet, in which it wobbles so that the axis of rotation sweeps out a cone
Derived forms
precessional (preˈcessional)
adjective
precessionally (preˈcessionally)
adverb
Word origin
C16: from Late Latin praecessiō a going in advance, from Latin praecēdere to precede
precession in American English
(priˈsɛʃən; prɪˈsɛʃən)
noun
1.
the act of preceding; precedence
2. Astronomy
precession of the equinoxes
3. Mechanics
an effect exhibited by a spinning body, as a top, when an applied torque tends to change the direction of its rotational axis, causing this axis generally to describe a cone and to turn at right angles to the direction of the torque
Derived forms
precessional (preˈcessional)
adjective
Word origin
ME < LL praecessio < L praecedere, to precede
Examples of 'precession' in a sentence
precession
Master Juwain believed they had been set to mark the precession of the constellations or some other astrological event.
David Zindell THE LIGHTSTONE: BOOK ONE, PART ONE OF THE EA CYCLE (2002)