PRECAUTION

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does precaution mean? 

• PRECAUTION (noun)
  The noun PRECAUTION has 3 senses:

1. a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.

2. the trait of practicing caution in advance

3. judiciousness in avoiding harm or danger

  Familiarity information: PRECAUTION used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PRECAUTION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

guard; precaution; safeguard

Context example:

we let our guard down

Hypernyms ("precaution" is a kind of...):

measure; step (any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "precaution"):

backstop (a precaution in case of an emergency)

security; security measures (measures taken as a precaution against theft or espionage or sabotage etc.)

Derivation:

precautionary (taken in advance to protect against possible danger or failure)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The trait of practicing caution in advance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("precaution" is a kind of...):

caution; circumspection (the trait of being circumspect and prudent)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Judiciousness in avoiding harm or danger

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

care; caution; forethought; precaution

Context example:

he handled the vase with care

Hypernyms ("precaution" is a kind of...):

judiciousness (good judgment)

 Context examples 

They have evidently taken the precaution of watching you, however, and that is what has brought Moriarty to Victoria.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Accordingly, when I mentioned it, with the greatest precaution, to Mrs. Crewler— “The mama?” said I.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Having learned such precautions, Martin consulted "The Duchess" for tone, and proceeded to mix according to formula.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

“I hope you observed all precautions, Mrs. Hudson?” said Holmes.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The Count, if you remember, took some other precautions; he made some requisitions on others that Mrs. Harker could not quite hear or understand.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

He took the precaution to sheer off from the two watching gods, and walked carefully to the corner of the cabin.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

I cannot readily forget the agonies which I endured some years ago through neglecting this precaution.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I knew he would not expect to see me there, yet I took every precaution possible, and certainly the worst of my suspicions proved too true.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

She always travels with her own sheets; an excellent precaution.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

But why should such precaution be used?

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)