Look up: Precession

1. 
   precession
   [n] - the motion of a spinning body (as a top) in which it wobbles so that the axis of rotation sweeps out a cone 2. [n] - the act of preceding (as in a ceremony)
   Found on http://www.webdictionary.co.uk/definitio
   
   
2. 
   Precession
   This is the slow movement of the celestial poles tracing out large circles on the celestial sphere. It is caused by a slow wobble in the Earth's axis due to the gravitational effects of the Sun and Moon on the Earth's equatorial bulge. A reasonable analogy is that of a spinning top - As the top slows down it will start to wobble. This 'Earth wobble' is very slow, one 'wobble' takes about 26 000 years to complete. The other effect is that the equinoxes are slowly moving or precessing, at the rate of about 50 arcseconds a year. The Vernal Equinox is also called the First Point of Aries but due to the effects of precession the Vernal Equinox is now in the constellation of Pisces and moving towards Aquarius.
   Found on http://www.delscope.demon.co.uk/astronom
   
   
3. 
   Precession
   Circular motion about the axis of rotation of a body; fixed with respect to the stars. The Earth is a giant gyroscope whose axis passes through the North and South Poles and this axis precesses with a period of 27,700 years.
   Found on http://www.exeterastro.co.uk/glossary.ht
   
   
4. 
   Precession
   A modern term, derived from the precession of the equinoxes and meaning a motion around a cone of the rotation axis of a spinning body. See also: Gyroscope.
   Found on http://www.diracdelta.co.uk/science/sour
   
   
5. 
   precession
   the movement of a rotating body upon the application of torque; the effect is a tendency to change the attitude of its axis of rotation Category: Transport • change in the direction of the axis of rotation of a spinning body,as a gyro,when acted upon by a torque Category: The cosmos • a change in the direction of the axis of rotation of a spinning body,as a gyro,when acted ...
   Found on http://www.mijnwoordenboek.nl/definition
   
   
6. 
   Precession
   Pre·ces'sion noun [ Latin praecedere , praecessum , to go before: confer French précession . See Precede .] The act of going before, or forward. Lunisolar precession . (Astron.) See under Lunisolar . -- Planetary precession , that part of the precession of the equinoxes which depends on the action of the planets alone. - ...
   Found on http://www.encyclo.co.uk/webster/P/144
   
   
7. 
   precession
   The act of going before, or forward. Lunisolar precession. ... <astronomy> The slow backward motion of the equinoctial points along the ecliptic, at the rate of 50.2<sec/ annually, caused by the action of the sun, moon, and planets, upon the protuberant matter about the earth's equator, in connection with its diurnal rotation; so called bec ...
   Found on http://www.mondofacto.com/facts/dictiona
   
   
8. 
   precession
   precedence noun the act of preceding in time or order or rank (as in a ceremony)
   Found on http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?
   
   
9. 
   precession
   noun the motion of a spinning body (as a top) in which it wobbles so that the axis of rotation sweeps out a cone
   Found on http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?
   
   
10. 
    Precession
    `Precession` refers to a change in the direction of the axis of a rotating object. In physics, there are two types of precession, torque-free and torque-induced, the latter being discussed here in more detail. In certain contexts, `precession` may refer to the precession that the Earth experiences, the effects of this type of precession on astronomical observation, or to the precession of orbital objects.
    Found on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precession
    
    
11. 
    Precession
    • (n.) The act of going before, or forward.
    Found on http://thinkexist.com/dictionary/meaning
    
    
12. 
    precession
    phenomenon associated with the action of a gyroscope or a spinning top and consisting of a comparatively slow rotation of the axis of rotation of a ... [2 related articles]
    Found on http://www.britannica.com/eb/a-z/p/107
    
    
13. 
    precession
    precession 1. The act or fact of preceding; precedence. 2. In astronomy: the slow, conical motion of the earth's axis of rotation, caused by the gravitational attraction of the sun and moon, and, to a smaller extent, of the planets, on the equatorial bulge of the earth. In certain contexts, 'precession' may refer to the precession that the Earth experienc...
    Found on http://www.wordinfo.info/words/index/inf
    
    
14. 
    precession
    a change of longitude, measured in the frame of reference defined by the primary body and the stars, of a characteristic point in a satellite orbit, such as the ascending node NOTE 1 - Precession of the orbit of a satellite is caused by a perturbation of its orbital motion, due for instance to non-uniformities in the distribution of mass in the pri...
    Found on http://www.electropedia.org/iev/iev.nsf/
    
    
15. 
    precession
    a conical motion of the axis of rotation of a rotating body about a direction fixed in relation to the stars, due to the application of an external force NOTE - Precession of a rotating body should not be confused with precession of the orbit of a satellite.
    Found on http://www.electropedia.org/iev/iev.nsf/
    
    
16. 
    precession
    A slow, periodic conical motion of the rotation axis of a spinning body, most familiar in the wobbling of a toy top or gyroscope. Earth's axis precesses, once around every 25,800 years, as a result of it not being perpendicular to the ecliptic (the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun). Being tippe...
    Found on http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedi
    
    
17. 
    precession
    precession: see gyroscope.
    Found on http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/sci/A09177