Approximate


near or approaching a certain state, condition, goal, or standard.
nearly exact; not perfectly accurate or correct:
The approximate time was 10 o’clock.
near; close together.
very similar; nearly identical.
to come near to; approach closely to:
to approximate an ideal.
to estimate:
We approximated the distance at three miles.
to simulate; imitate closely:
The motions of the stars can be approximated in a planetarium.
to bring near.
to come near in position, character, amount, etc.
Contemporary Examples

“I wanted to use the series to approximate films like [those],” said Bromell.
The Next Mad Men? Jace Lacob July 28, 2010

By 2018, Chinese wealth is expected to approximate the level of US wealth in 1993.
World Will Be 40 Percent Richer By 2018 Credit Suisse December 19, 2013

It somewhat resembled meat and was drowned in a gelatinous brown goop meant to approximate gravy.
The Weirdest Food Trend Ever Robert Rosenthal July 14, 2010

The red line is the approximate break-even price of the average tar sands producer.
The Quixotic Crusade Against the Keystone Pipeline Megan McArdle February 28, 2013

And nobody had reported a missing child of that approximate age.
Baby Hope Killer Confesses After 22 Years Michael Daly October 12, 2013

Historical Examples

His point of vantage was in the approximate center of an island of sand and shingle, a mile long, perhaps, by half a mile wide.
Dorothy Dixon and the Mystery Plane Dorothy Wayne

First—approximate weight of the machine when finished and equipped.
Flying Machines W.J. Jackman and Thos. H. Russell

It wouldn’t give much of a signal, but you’d know our approximate position.
Death Wish Robert Sheckley

The tale of one day will give an approximate idea of most of the days I spent with her.
The First Violin Jessie Fothergill

This is obviously only an approximate method of dealing with the question.
The Story of the Heavens Robert Stawell Ball

adjective (əˈprɒksɪmɪt)
almost accurate or exact
inexact; rough; loose: only an approximate fit
much alike; almost the same
near; close together
verb (əˈprɒksɪˌmeɪt)
(usually foll by to) to come or bring near or close; be almost the same (as)
(maths) to find an expression for (some quantity) accurate to a specified degree See accurate (sense 4)
adj.

early 15c., from Latin approximatus, past participle of approximare “to come near to,” from ad- “to” (see ad-) + proximare “come near,” from proximus “nearest,” superlative of prope “near” (see propinquity).
v.

early 15c., “to bring or put close,” from approximate (adj.). Meaning “to come close” is from 1789. Related: Approximated; approximating.

approximate ap·prox·i·mate (ə-prŏk’sə-māt’)
v. ap·prox·i·mat·ed, ap·prox·i·mat·ing, ap·prox·i·mates
To bring together, as cut edges of tissue. adj. (-mĭt)

Relating to the contact surfaces, either proximal or distal, of two adjacent teeth; proximate.

Close together. Used of the teeth in the human jaw.

Read Also:

  • Approximated

    near or approaching a certain state, condition, goal, or standard. nearly exact; not perfectly accurate or correct: The approximate time was 10 o’clock. near; close together. very similar; nearly identical. to come near to; approach closely to: to approximate an ideal. to estimate: We approximated the distance at three miles. to simulate; imitate closely: The […]

  • Approximately

    near or approaching a certain state, condition, goal, or standard. nearly exact; not perfectly accurate or correct: The approximate time was 10 o’clock. near; close together. very similar; nearly identical. to come near to; approach closely to: to approximate an ideal. to estimate: We approximated the distance at three miles. to simulate; imitate closely: The […]

  • Approximates

    near or approaching a certain state, condition, goal, or standard. nearly exact; not perfectly accurate or correct: The approximate time was 10 o’clock. near; close together. very similar; nearly identical. to come near to; approach closely to: to approximate an ideal. to estimate: We approximated the distance at three miles. to simulate; imitate closely: The […]

  • Approximation

    a guess or estimate: Ninety-three million miles is an approximation of the distance of the earth from the sun. nearness in space, position, degree, or relation; proximity; closeness. Mathematics, Physics. a result that is not necessarily exact, but is within the limits of accuracy required for a given purpose. Contemporary Examples To the second point, […]

  • Approximation algorithm

    approximation algorithm algorithm An algorithm for an optimisation problem that generates feasible but not necessarily optimal solutions. Unlike “heuristic”, the term “approximation algorithm” often implies some proven worst or average case bound on performance. The terms are often used interchangeably however. (1997-10-28)


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