very steep, high and often dangerous 陡峭的；险峻的；峭拔的 precipitous cliffs 险峻的峭壁 a precipitous drop at the side of the road 道路一旁陡降的坡面
sudden and great 突然的；骤然的；急剧的 a precipitous decline in exports 出口的急剧下降
done very quickly, without enough thought or care 草率的；仓促的；贸然的 a precipitous action 贸然行动
Word Originmid 17th cent.: from obsolete French précipiteux, from Latin praeceps, praecip(it)- ‘steep, headlong’, from prae ‘before’ + caput ‘head’.