precession
noun
pre·ces·sion
prē-ˈse-shən 
: a comparatively slow gyration of the rotation axis of a spinning body about another line intersecting it so as to describe a cone
Examples of precession in a Sentence
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As their orbit tightens, the relativistic precession of the stars speeds up, while the planet’s precession slows down, because the stars act more like a single object from far away.
—
Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 31 Jan. 2026
James Provost Like an MRI scanner, a proton-precession magnetometer measures the oscillations of hydrogen nuclei—that is, protons.
—David Schneider, IEEE Spectrum, 25 Nov. 2025
Another form of astrology known as the sidereal Zodiac, which is predominantly used in India, does take precession into account.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 28 Sep. 2025
One is called the analysis trap, which measures the precession of the magnetic moment around a magnetic field, and the other is the precision trap, which is able to flip the quantum spin of a particle and measure that particle's oscillation in a magnetic field.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 24 July 2025
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Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 31 Jan. 2026
James Provost Like an MRI scanner, a proton-precession magnetometer measures the oscillations of hydrogen nuclei—that is, protons.
—David Schneider, IEEE Spectrum, 25 Nov. 2025
Another form of astrology known as the sidereal Zodiac, which is predominantly used in India, does take precession into account.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 28 Sep. 2025
One is called the analysis trap, which measures the precession of the magnetic moment around a magnetic field, and the other is the precision trap, which is able to flip the quantum spin of a particle and measure that particle's oscillation in a magnetic field.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for precession
Cite this Entry
“Precession.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precession. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
precession
noun
pre·ces·sion
prē-ˈsesh-ən
: a comparatively slow circling of the rotation axis of a spinning body about another line intersecting it
precess
verb
prē-ˈses,
ˈprē-ˌses
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