approximate

[adjective uh-prok-suh-mit; verb uh-prok-suh-meyt]

adjective

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.

verb (used with object), ap·prox·i·mat·ed, ap·prox·i·mat·ing.

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.

verb (used without object), ap·prox·i·mat·ed, ap·prox·i·mat·ing.

to come near in position, character, amount, etc.

Origin of approximate

1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin approximātus drawn near to, approached (past participle of approximāre). See ap-¹, proximate

Related formsap·prox·i·mate·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for approximated

close, near, rough, loose, guessed, resembling, matching, like, neighboring, bordering, resemble, reach, touch, estimate, approach, almost, comparative, proximate, relative, imperfect

Examples from the Web for approximated

Historical Examples of approximated

This conduct of venery is an ideal that is only approximated.
The Leopard Woman
Stewart Edward White
It must be confessed that the latter is often approximated by reality--and everybody knows it.
The Forest
Stewart Edward White
Of course, conditions on Earth could be approximated on another planet.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science, November, 1930
Various
Here, in some cases at least, the West Indian conditions were approximated.
The Journal of Negro History, Volume 2, 1917
Various
The edges must then be pared and approximated as directed above.
A Manual of the Operations of Surgery
Joseph Bell

British Dictionary definitions for approximated

approximate

adjective (əˈprɒksɪmɪt)

almost accurate or exact

inexact; rough; looseonly 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 degreeSee accurate (def. 4)

Derived Formsapproximative, adjective

Word Origin for approximate

C15: from Late Latin approximāre, from Latin proximus nearest, from prope near

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for approximated

approximate

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).

approximate

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

approximated in Medicine

approximate

[ə-prŏk′sə-māt′]

v.

To bring together, as cut edges of tissue.

adj.

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

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