The water cycle diagram starts with cloud drops, but since it is cycle, any part could be the starting point.
1. Accretion The process by which something increases by natural growth or addition. Cloud droplets accrete (grow by combining) forming larger, heavier rain drops.
2. Precipitation The liquid or solid forms of water that fall to the Earth. Precipitate is the act of falling. Raindrops are a form of precipitation, thus they precipitate (fall to Earth).
3. Evaporation The process of a liquid changing into a gas. When Liquid water evaporates it forms water vapor.
Note: Evaporation occurs on the surface of water and occurs at temperatures below the boiling point of water.
4. Condensation The process of a gas changing to a liquid. Water vapor condenses when cooled forming liquid water.