different between precise vs satisfactory

English

Alternative forms

• præcise (archaic)

Etymology

From Middle French précis, from Latin praecisus. Doublet of précis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p???sa?s/
• Rhymes: -a?s
• Hyphenation: pre?cise

Adjective

precise (comparative more precise, superlative most precise)

1. exact, accurate

   Antonyms: inexact, imprecise

2. (sciences, of experimental results) consistent, clustered close together, agreeing with each other (this does not mean that they cluster near the true, correct, or accurate value)

   Antonyms: inconsistent, varying

3. adhering too much to rules; prim or punctilious

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:meticulous

Derived terms

• precisely
• prissy

Translations

Verb

precise (third-person singular simple present precises, present participle precising, simple past and past participle precised)

1. (nonstandard, non-native speakers' English or European Union documents, transitive) To make or render precise; to specify.

Derived terms

• precising definition

Translations

Anagrams

• piecers, pierces, recipes

Italian

Adjective

precise

1. feminine plural of preciso

Participle

precise f pl

1. feminine plural of preciso

Verb

precise

1. third-person singular past historic of precidere

Anagrams

• perisce

Portuguese

Verb

precise

1. first-person singular (eu) present subjunctive of precisar
2. third-person singular (ele and ela, also used with você and others) present subjunctive of precisar
3. third-person singular (você) affirmative imperative of precisar
4. third-person singular (você) negative imperative of precisar

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Spain) /p?e??ise/, [p?e??i.se]
• IPA^(key): (Latin America) /p?e?sise/, [p?e?si.se]

Verb

precise

1. Formal second-person singular (usted) imperative form of precisar.
2. First-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of precisar.
3. Formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of precisar.
4. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted^?) present subjunctive form of precisar.

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French satisfactoire, from Late Latin satisfact?rius, from Latin satisfactus, past participle of satisfaci?.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sæt?s?fækt(?)?i/
• Rhymes: -ækt??i

Adjective

satisfactory (comparative more satisfactory, superlative most satisfactory)

1. Done to satisfaction; adequate or sufficient.

   The satisfactory results of the survey led to his promotion.
2. Causing satisfaction; agreeable or pleasant; satisfying.
3. (theology) Making atonement for a sin; expiatory.

Usage notes

Although structurally similar (both being derived from satisfy and describing that which produces satisfaction), satisfactory (def. 1) and satisfying differ in connotation. Satisfactory connotes "adequate, conforming to standards," while satisfying connotes "pleasing, or sufficient to remove any feeling of lack." An answer to a question or the outcome of a situation, for example, could be satisfactory without being satisfying, if it met the requirements but left one wanting more.

Derived terms

• satisfactorily (adv)
• unsatisfactory (adj)

Related terms

• satisfaction (n)
• satisfied (adj)

Translations