| English Dictionary |
APPROXIMATE
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does approximate mean?
• APPROXIMATE (adjective)
The adjective APPROXIMATE has 3 senses:
1. not quite exact or correct
2. very close in resemblance
3. located close together
Familiarity information: APPROXIMATE used as an adjective is uncommon.
• APPROXIMATE (verb)
The verb APPROXIMATE has 2 senses:
1. be close or similar
2. judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time)
Familiarity information: APPROXIMATE used as a verb is rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Not quite exact or correct
Synonyms:
approximate; approximative; rough
Context example:
a ballpark estimate
Similar:
inexact (not exact)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Very close in resemblance
Synonyms:
approximate; near
Context example:
a near likeness
Similar:
close (close in relevance or relationship)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Located close together
Synonyms:
approximate; close together
Context example:
approximate leaves grow together but are not united
Similar:
close (at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other)
| Conjugation: |
Past simple: approximated
Past participle: approximated
-ing form: approximating
Sense 1
Meaning:
Be close or similar
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Synonyms:
approximate; come close
Context example:
Her results approximate my own
Hypernyms (to "approximate" is one way to...):
resemble (appear like; be similar or bear a likeness to)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "approximate"):
approach; border on (come near or verge on, resemble, come nearer in quality, or character)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
Derivation:
approximative (not quite exact or correct)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time)
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Synonyms:
approximate; estimate; gauge; guess; judge
Context example:
I estimate this chicken to weigh three pounds
Hypernyms (to "approximate" is one way to...):
calculate; cipher; compute; cypher; figure; reckon; work out (make a mathematical calculation or computation)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "approximate"):
quantise; quantize (approximate (a signal varying continuously in amplitude) by one whose amplitude is restricted to a prescribed set of discrete values)
misgauge (gauge something incorrectly or improperly)
give (estimate the duration or outcome of something)
lowball; underestimate (make a deliberately low estimate)
assess (estimate the value of (property) for taxation)
make (calculate as being)
count; reckon (take account of)
truncate (approximate by ignoring all terms beyond a chosen one)
guesstimate (estimate based on a calculation)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s PP
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
Derivation:
approximative (not quite exact or correct)
Context examples
In any organism health constitutes a form of homeostasis with inputs and outputs of energy and mass in approximate equilibrium allowing for growth and continued survival.
(Health, NCI Thesaurus)
A description of the technique for the approximate calculation of a value.
(Estimation Method, NCI Thesaurus)
MAP can be approximated without an invasive procedure using the following formula: diastolic pressure plus 1/3 of the pulse pressure, where pulse pressure is systolic pressure - diastolic pressure.
(Mean Arterial Pressure, NCI Thesaurus)
A graphical calculating device or a two-dimensional diagram designed to allow the approximate graphical computation of a function.
(Nomogram Chart, NCI Thesaurus)
When you follow two separate chains of thought, Watson, you will find some point of intersection which should approximate to the truth.
(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
In the latter case, he may well approximate to what the vulgar have called the 'missing link.'
(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
A device that approximates a blood alcohol level from the components of an expired breath.
(Breath Alcohol Test Device, NCI Thesaurus)
There was a compromise that approximated the truth, though it flattered not the school of god, while it challenged the brute-savageness of the school of clod.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
A method for estimating properties of a dataset by measuring those properties when sampling from an approximating distribution.
(Bootstrapping, NCI Thesaurus)
Preliminary orbital calculations suggested that the object had come from the approximate direction of the bright star Vega, in the northern constellation of Lyra.
(ESO Observations Show First Interstellar Asteroid is Like Nothing Seen Before, ESO)
| Learn English with... Proverbs |
"To give happiness to another person gives such a great merit, it cannot even be carried by a horse." (Bhutanese proverb)
"If the water is available you need not clean up with sand." (Arabic proverb)
"Just toss it in my hat and I'll sort it to-morrow." (Dutch proverb)