approximate

English

Etymology

From Latin approximatus, past participle of approximare (“to approach”); ad + proximare (“to come near”). See proximate.

Pronunciation

Adjective

• (RP) IPA: /ə.ˈpɹɒk.sɪ.mət/, X-SAMPA: /@."prQk.sI.m@t/
• (US) IPA: /ə.ˈpɹɑk.sə.mət/, X-SAMPA: /@."prAk.s@.m@t/

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Verb

• (RP) IPA: /ə.ˈpɹɒk.sɪ.meɪt/, X-SAMPA: /@."prQk.sI.meIt/
• (US) IPA: /ə.ˈpɹɑk.sə.meɪt/, X-SAMPA: /@."prAk.s@.meIt/

  Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

approximate (comparative more approximate, superlative most approximate)

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

   Approximate results or values.

   To help carry out its mission, NASA's Genesis spacecraft has on board an ion monitor to record the speed, density, temperature and approximate composition of the solar wind ions.

Antonyms

• exact, precise

Derived terms

approximately approximation approximative

Translations

Approaching; proximate; nearly resembling

• Bulgarian: приблизителен (bg) (priblizitelen)
• Catalan: aproximat (ca)
• Czech: přibližný (cs) m
• Finnish: arvioitu (fi), likiarvoinen (fi)
• French: approximant (fr) m

• German: annähernd, ungefähr, zirka, circa
• Greek: παραπλήσιος (el) (paraplísios) m
• Portuguese: aproximar-se
• Spanish: aproximado (es)
• Welsh: bras (cy)

Near correctness; nearly exact; not perfectly accurate;

• Catalan: aproximat (ca)
• Czech: přibližný (cs) m
• Finnish: arvioitu (fi), likiarvoinen (fi), likimääräinen (fi)
• French: approximatif (fr) m
• German: annähernd, ungefähr, zirka, circa

• Greek: χονδρικός (el) (chondrikós) m
• Russian: приблизительный (ru) (priblizít'elnyj), приближенный (ru) (približónnyj), примерный (ru) (primérnyj)
• Spanish: aproximado (es)
• Welsh: bras (cy)

Verb

approximate (third-person singular simple present approximates, present participle approximating, simple past and past participle approximated)

1. To carry or advance near; to cause to approach.

   To approximate the inequality of riches to the level of nature. --Burke.

2. To come near to; to approach.

   The telescope approximates perfection. --J. Morse.

3. To estimate.

Quotations

When you follow two separate chains of thought, Watson, you will find some point of intersection which should approximate to the truth.
— Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax

Translations

to carry or advance near; to cause to approach

• Bulgarian: приближавам се до (bg) (približavam se do)
• Finnish: lähentää (fi)
• French: approximer (fr)

• German: annähern (de)
• Greek: προσεγγίζω (el) (prosengízo), πλησιάζω (el) (plisiázo)

to come near to; to approach

• Bulgarian: приближавам се до (bg) (približavam se do)
• Finnish: lähentyä (fi), lähestyä (fi)
• French: approximer (fr)

• German: annähern, annähernd erreichen
• Greek: προσεγγίζω (el) (prosengízo), πλησιάζω (el) (plisiázo)

to estimate

• Finnish: arvioida (fi), approksimoida (fi), estimoida (fi)
• Greek: προσεγγίζω (el) (prosengízo)

• Hebrew: לשער (he) (Leshaer)

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Latin

Verb

approximāte

1. first-person plural present active imperative of approximō