WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
pre•coc•i•ty
(pri kos′i tē),USA pronunciation n.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026- Developmental Biology, Botanythe state of being or tendency to be precocious.
- Latin praecoci-, stem of praecox early ripening, adjective, adjectival derivative of praecoquere to bake or ripen early; see pre-, cook1) + -ité -ity
- French précosité, equivalent. to précose (
- 1630–40
pre•co•cious /prɪˈkoʊʃəs/USA pronunciation adj.
pre•coc•i•ty /prɪˈkɑsɪti/USA pronunciation n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Developmental Biologyunusually advanced or mature:a precocious child.
pre•coc•i•ty /prɪˈkɑsɪti/USA pronunciation n. [uncountable]
pre•co•cious
(pri kō′shəs),USA pronunciation adj.
pre•co′cious•ly, adv.
pre•co′cious•ness, n.
- Developmental Biologyunusually advanced or mature in development, esp. mental development:a precocious child.
- Developmental Biologyprematurely developed, as the mind, faculties, etc.
- Developmental Biologyof or pertaining to premature development.
- [Bot.]
- Botanyflowering, fruiting, or ripening early, as plants or fruit.
- Botanybearing blossoms before leaves, as plants.
- Botanyappearing before leaves, as flowers.
- Latin praecoci-, stem of praecox (see precocity) + -ous 1640–50
pre•co′cious•ness, n.
'precocity' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):