precipitous
/prɪˈsɪpɪtəs/adjective
1
- dangerously high or steep陡峭的, 陡峻的：
the track skirted a precipitous drop.
这条路绕过一处陡降。
1.1
- (of a change to a worse situation or condition) sudden and dramatic（情形恶化）陡然的, 剧烈的：
a precipitous slide in the government's popularity.
政府声誉的陡然下滑。
2
- (of an action) done suddenly and without careful consideration（行为）轻率的, 贸然的：
precipitous intervention.
贸然介入。
派生词
precipitously
adverbprecipitousness
noun词源
mid 17th cent.: from obsolete French précipiteux, from Latin praeceps, praecip（it）- 'steep， headlong' （see PRECIPITATE）.