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estimate

[verb es-tuh-meyt; noun es-tuh-mit, -meyt]
verb (used with object), es·ti·mat·ed, es·ti·mat·ing.
  1. to form an approximate judgment or opinion regarding the worth, amount, size, weight, etc., of; calculate approximately: to estimate the cost of a college education.
  2. to form an opinion of; judge.
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verb (used without object), es·ti·mat·ed, es·ti·mat·ing.
  1. to make an estimate.
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noun
  1. an approximate judgment or calculation, as of the value, amount, time, size, or weight of something.
  2. a judgment or opinion, as of the qualities of a person or thing.
  3. a statement of the approximate charge for work to be done, submitted by a person or business firm ready to undertake the work.
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Origin of estimate

1525–35; < Latin aestimātus, past participle of aestimāre to value, estimate; see -ate1
Related formses·ti·mat·ing·ly, adverbes·ti·ma·tor, nounpre·es·ti·mate, verb (used with object), pre·es·ti·mat·ed, pre·es·ti·mat·ing.pre·es·ti·mate, nounre·es·ti·mate, verb (used with object), re·es·ti·mat·ed, re·es·ti·mat·ing.re·es·ti·mate, nounself-es·ti·mate, nounun·es·ti·mat·ed, adjectivewell-es·ti·mat·ed, adjective

Synonyms

1. compute, count, reckon, gauge, assess, value, evaluate, appraise. 4. valuation, calculation, appraisal.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for estimator

Historical Examples

  • The estimator and his work; forms to use; general rules for estimating.

    The Uses of Italic

    Frederick W. Hamilton

  • Mr. Reivers was a foreman for the company that my father was estimator for.

    The Snow-Burner

    Henry Oyen

  • The Estimator of Destinies wheeled in his chair and cast a look of brotherly frankness into Ruggss eyes.

British Dictionary definitions for estimator

estimator

noun
  1. a person or thing that estimates
  2. statistics a derived random variable that generates estimates of a parameter of a given distribution, such as ̄X, the mean of a number of identically distributed random variables X i . If ̄X is unbiased, ̄x, the observed value should be close to E (X i)See also sampling statistic
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estimate

verb (ˈɛstɪˌmeɪt)
  1. to form an approximate idea of (distance, size, cost, etc); calculate roughly; gauge
  2. (tr; may take a clause as object) to form an opinion about; judgeto estimate one's chances
  3. to submit (an approximate price) for (a job) to a prospective client
  4. (tr) statistics to assign a value (a point estimate) or range of values (an interval estimate) to a parameter of a population on the basis of sampling statisticsSee estimator
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noun (ˈɛstɪmɪt)
  1. an approximate calculation
  2. a statement indicating the likely charge for or cost of certain work
  3. a judgment; appraisal; opinion
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Derived Formsestimative, adjective

Word Origin

C16: from Latin aestimāre to assess the worth of, of obscure origin
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 estimator

n.

1660s, from Latin aestimator, agent noun from aestimare (see estimate).

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estimate

n.

1560s, "valuation," from Latin aestimatus, verbal noun from aestimare (see esteem). Earlier in sense "power of the mind" (mid-15c.). Meaning "approximate judgment" is from 1580s. As a builder's statement of projected costs, from 1796.

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estimate

v.

1530s, "appraise the worth of," from Latin aestimatus, past participle of aestimare "to value, appraise" (see esteem). Meaning "form an approximate notion" is from 1660s. Related: Estimated; estimates; estimating.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper