precipitation / precipitate / suppression
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precipitation
Water that falls from the atmosphere to the earth in liquid or solid form, such as rain, snow, or hail.
Für morgen ist in der gesamten Region mit starkem Niederschlag zu rechnen.
Heavy precipitation is expected throughout the region tomorrow.
The word is made up of 'nieder' (downward) and 'Schlag' (blow/strike). So it describes something that 'strikes' or is brought from above to below. This basic idea helps you understand the different meanings: rain falls down onto the earth, and an uprising is put down.
Das Verb zum Nomen ist „niederschlagen“, zum Beispiel: „Die Armee schlug den Aufstand nieder.“
The verb for the noun is 'niederschlagen' (to put down/to knock down), for example: 'Die Armee schlug den Aufstand nieder.' (The army put down the uprising.)
The four meanings are very different and become clear through context. If it is about weather, rain or snow is meant. In chemistry, it refers to substances in liquids. In a political context, it is about the suppression of protests, and in sports it refers to a blow that brings the opponent to the ground.
Im Wetterbericht war von ergiebigen Niederschlägen die Rede.
The weather report mentioned heavy precipitation.
In connection with weather, 'Niederschlag' (precipitation) is often combined with adjectives such as 'stark' (heavy), 'leicht' (light), or 'ergiebig' (abundant). People also say that precipitation 'fällt' (falls) or that one 'mit Niederschlag rechnet' (expects precipitation).
Am Wochenende fällt voraussichtlich kein Niederschlag.
No precipitation is expected over the weekend.
This meaning is a technical term from chemistry. Typical formulations are that a precipitate 'bildet sich' (forms), that it 'setzt sich am Boden ab' (settles at the bottom), or that it 'fällt aus' (precipitates).
Durch die Zugabe der Säure bildete sich ein weißer Niederschlag.
Adding the acid caused a white precipitate to form.
rain
'der Regen' and 'der Niederschlag' both have to do with water that falls from the atmosphere to the earth. 'Regen' means only liquid drops. 'Niederschlag' is more general and can also mean snow or hail. In everyday language, people usually say 'Regen' when it is simply raining. 'Niederschlag' sounds more like a weather forecast, measurement, or technical language. Learners may confuse the words because rain is a form of precipitation. As a practical rule: all rain is precipitation, but not all precipitation is rain.
Im Wetterbericht heißt es, dass morgen viel Niederschlag fällt.
The weather forecast says that there will be a lot of precipitation tomorrow.
Der Regen ist heute stärker als gestern, deshalb bleiben die Kinder drinnen.
The rain is heavier today than yesterday, so the children are staying inside.