precipitating cause - definition of precipitating cause by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.

cause (kôz)

a. The producer of an effect, result, or consequence.

b. The one, such as a person, event, or condition, that is responsible for an action or result.

2. A basis for an action or response; a reason: The doctor's report gave no cause for alarm.

3. A goal or principle served with dedication and zeal: "the cause of freedom versus tyranny" Hannah Arendt.

4. The interests of a person or group engaged in a struggle: "The cause of America is in great measure the cause of all mankind" Thomas Paine.

5. Law

a. A ground for legal action.

b. A lawsuit.

6. A subject under debate or discussion.

tr.v. caused, caus·ing, caus·es

1. To be the cause of or reason for; result in.

2. To bring about or compel by authority or force: The moderator invoked a rule causing the debate to be ended.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin causa, reason, purpose.]

causa·ble adj.

causeless adj.

causer n.

Synonyms: cause, reason, occasion, antecedent
These nouns denote what brings about or is associated with an effect or result. A cause is an agent or condition that permits the occurrence of an effect or leads to a result: "He is not only dull in himself, but the cause of dullness in others" Samuel Foote.
Reason refers to what explains the occurrence or nature of an effect: There was no obvious reason for the accident.
Occasion is a situation that permits or stimulates existing causes to come into play: "The immediate occasion of his departure ... was the favorable opportunity ... of migrating in a pleasant way" Thomas De Quincey.
Antecedent refers to what has gone before and implies a relationship

but not necessarily a causal one

with what ensues: Some of the antecedents of World War II lie in economic conditions in Europe following World War I.

cause

Noun

1. something that produces a particular effect

2. grounds for action; justification: there is cause for concern

3. an aim or principle which an individual or group is interested in and supports: the Socialist cause

Verb

[causing, caused]

to be the cause of [Latin causa]

causeless adj

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Noun	1.	cause - events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something; "they are trying to determine the cause of the crash" inception, origination, origin - an event that is a beginning; a first part or stage of subsequent events antecedent - a preceding occurrence or cause or event aetiology, etiology - the cause of a disease factor - anything that contributes causally to a result; "a number of factors determined the outcome" producer - something that produces; "Maine is a leading producer of potatoes"; "this microorganism is a producer of disease" mutagenesis - an event capable of causing a mutation
	2.	cause - a justification for something existing or happening; "he had no cause to complain"; "they had good reason to rejoice" grounds, reason justification - a statement in explanation of some action or belief
	3.	cause - a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end; "he supported populist campaigns"; "they worked in the cause of world peace"; "the team was ready for a drive toward the pennant"; "the movement to end slavery"; "contributed to the war effort" crusade, campaign, drive, effort, movement venture - any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome ad blitz, ad campaign, advertising campaign - an organized program of advertisements anti-war movement - a campaign against entering or continuing a war charm campaign - a campaign of flattery and friendliness (by a company, politician, etc.) to become more popular and gain support consumerism - a movement advocating greater protection of the interests of consumers campaigning, candidacy, candidature, electioneering, political campaign - the campaign of a candidate to be elected fund-raising campaign, fund-raising drive, fund-raising effort - a campaign to raise money for some cause feminist movement, women's lib, women's liberation movement, feminism - the movement aimed at equal rights for women gay lib, gay liberation movement - the movement aimed at liberating homosexuals from legal or social or economic oppression lost cause - a defeated cause or a cause for which defeat is inevitable reform - a campaign aimed to correct abuses or malpractices; "the reforms he proposed were too radical for the politicians" war - a concerted campaign to end something that is injurious; "the war on poverty"; "the war against crime" youth crusade, youth movement - political or religious or social reform movement or agitation consisting chiefly of young people
	4.	cause - any entity that produces an effect or is responsible for events or results causal agency, causal agent physical entity - an entity that has physical existence individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul - a human being; "there was too much for one person to do" agent - an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect; "their research uncovered new disease agents" nature - a causal agent creating and controlling things in the universe; "the laws of nature"; "nature has seen to it that men are stronger than women" occult, supernatural - supernatural forces and events and beings collectively; "She doesn't believe in the supernatural" theurgy - the effect of supernatural or divine intervention in human affairs first cause, prime mover, primum mobile - an agent that is the cause of all things but does not itself have a cause; "God is the first cause" destiny, fate - the ultimate agency regarded as predetermining the course of events (often personified as a woman); "we are helpless in the face of destiny" catalyst - something that causes an important event to happen; "the invasion acted as a catalyst to unite the country" deus ex machina - any active agent who appears unexpectedly to solve an insoluble difficulty manipulator, operator - an agent that operates some apparatus or machine; "the operator of the switchboard" power, force - one possessing or exercising power or influence or authority; "the mysterious presence of an evil power"; "may the force be with you"; "the forces of evil" life principle, vital principle - a hypothetical force to which the functions and qualities peculiar to living things are sometimes ascribed engine - something used to achieve a purpose; "an engine of change" cause of death, killer - the causal agent resulting in death; "heart disease is the biggest killer in the United States" danger - a cause of pain or injury or loss; "he feared the dangers of traveling by air" agent - a substance that exerts some force or effect
	5.	cause - a comprehensive term for any proceeding in a court of law whereby an individual seeks a legal remedy; "the family brought suit against the landlord" causa, lawsuit, suit, case civil suit - a lawsuit alleging violations of civil law by the defendant class action, class-action suit - a lawsuit brought by a representative member of a large group of people on behalf of all members of the group countersuit - a suit brought against someone who has sued you criminal suit - a lawsuit alleging violations of criminal law by the defendant moot - a hypothetical case that law students argue as an exercise; "he organized the weekly moot" bastardy proceeding, paternity suit - a lawsuit filed to determine the father of a child born out of wedlock (and to provide for the support of the child once paternity is determined) legal proceeding, proceeding, proceedings - (law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"
Verb	1.	cause - give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally; "cause a commotion"; "make a stir"; "cause an accident" do, make shape, determine, influence, regulate, mold - shape or influence; give direction to; "experience often determines ability"; "mold public opinion" create, make - make or cause to be or to become; "make a mess in one's office"; "create a furor" initiate, pioneer - take the lead or initiative in; participate in the development of; "This South African surgeon pioneered heart transplants" effect, effectuate, set up - produce; "The scientists set up a shock wave" make - compel or make somebody or something to act in a certain way; "People cannot be made to integrate just by passing a law!"; "Heat makes you sweat" occasion - give occasion to call forth, evoke, kick up, provoke - evoke or provoke to appear or occur; "Her behavior provoked a quarrel between the couple" breed, engender, spawn - call forth incite, motivate, prompt, propel, actuate, move - give an incentive for action; "This moved me to sacrifice my career" impel, force - urge or force (a person) to an action; constrain or motivate facilitate - increase the likelihood of (a response); "The stimulus facilitates a delayed impulse"
	2.	cause - cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner; "The ads induced me to buy a VCR"; "My children finally got me to buy a computer"; "My wife made me buy a new sofa" induce, stimulate, make, get, have decide - cause to decide; "This new development finally decided me!" persuade - cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action; twist somebody's arm; "You can't persuade me to buy this ugly vase!" bring - induce or persuade; "The confession of one of the accused brought the others to admit to the crime as well" solicit - incite, move, or persuade to some act of lawlessness or insubordination; "He was accused of soliciting his colleagues to destroy the documents" encourage - spur on; "His financial success encouraged him to look for a wife" let - actively cause something to happen; "I let it be known that I was not interested" lead - cause to undertake a certain action; "Her greed led her to forge the checks" instigate, prompt, inspire - serve as the inciting cause of; "She prompted me to call my relatives" suborn - induce to commit perjury or give false testimony; "The President tried to suborn false witnesses" compel, obligate, oblige - force somebody to do something; "We compel all students to fill out this form"