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Approximate

//əˈpɹɒk.sɪ.mət// adj, noun, verb

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Approaching; proximate; nearly resembling.
  2. 2
    Nearing correctness; nearly exact; not perfectly accurate.

    "approximate results or values"

  3. 3
    Drawn close together, but not united.
Adjective
  1. 1
    located close together wordnet
  2. 2
    very close in resemblance wordnet
  3. 3
    not quite exact or correct wordnet
Noun
  1. 1
    An approximate result or quantity. rare
Verb
  1. 1
    To estimate. ambitransitive

    "I approximated the value of pi by taking 22 divided by 7."

  2. 2
    judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time) wordnet
  3. 3
    To come near to; to approach. transitive

    "When you follow two separate chains of thought, Watson, you will find some point of intersection which should approximate to the truth."

  4. 4
    be close or similar wordnet
  5. 5
    To carry or advance near; to cause to approach. transitive

    "to approximate the inequality of riches to the level of nature"

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English approximat(e) (“close, near (to); similar; intimate”, also used as the past participle of approximaten), from Latin approximātus, the perfect passive participle of approximō (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), further from ad- (“to, towards, at”) + proximō (“to come near”). The noun was derived from the adjective through substantivization, see -ate (noun-forming suffix). See also proximate.

Etymology 2

From Middle English approximat(e) (“close, near (to); similar; intimate”, also used as the past participle of approximaten), from Latin approximātus, the perfect passive participle of approximō (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), further from ad- (“to, towards, at”) + proximō (“to come near”). The noun was derived from the adjective through substantivization, see -ate (noun-forming suffix). See also proximate.

Etymology 3

From Middle English approximaten (“to bring, put close (to)”), from approximat(e) (“close, near (to); similar; intimate”, also used as the past participle of approximaten) + -en (verb-forming suffix), borrowed from Latin approximātus, see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more.

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