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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

es·ti·mate       (ěs'tə-māt')  Pronunciation Key  tr.v.   es·ti·mat·ed, es·ti·mat·ing, es·ti·mates To calculate approximately (the amount, extent, magnitude, position, or value of something). To form an opinion about; evaluate: "While an author is yet living we estimate his powers by his worst performance" (Samuel Johnson). n.   (-mĭt) The act of evaluating or appraising. A tentative evaluation or rough calculation, as of worth, quantity, or size. A statement of the approximate cost of work to be done, such as a building project or car repairs. A judgment based on one's impressions; an opinion. [Latin aestimāre, aestimāt-.] es'ti·ma'tive adj., es'ti·ma'tor n. Synonyms: These verbs mean to form a judgment of worth or significance. Estimate usually implies a subjective and somewhat inexact judgment: difficult to estimate the possible results in advance. Appraise stresses expert judgment: appraised the works of art. Assess implies authoritative judgment in setting a monetary value on something as a basis for taxation: assessing real estate for investors. Assay refers to careful examination, especially to chemical analysis of an ore: will assay the ingot. In extended senses appraise, assess, and assay can refer to any critical analysis: appraised his character; will assess the impact of higher taxes; assaying the idea's merit. Evaluate implies considered judgment in ascertaining value: evaluating a student's thesis for content and organization. Rate involves determining the rank or grade of someone or something in relation to others: rated the restaurant higher than any other in the city.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

estimate
noun
1.	an approximate calculation of quantity or degree or worth; "an estimate of what it would cost"; "a rough idea how long it would take"
2.	a judgment of the qualities of something or somebody; "many factors are involved in any estimate of human life"; "in my estimation the boy is innocent"
3.	a document appraising the value of something (as for insurance or taxation) [syn: appraisal]
4.	a statement indicating the likely cost of some job; "he got an estimate from the car repair shop"
5.	the respect with which a person is held; "they had a high estimation of his ability"
verb
1.	judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time); "I estimate this chicken to weigh three pounds"
2.	judge to be probable [syn: calculate]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Estimate

Aim\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Aimed; p. pr. & vb. n. Aiming.] [OE. amen, aimen, eimen, to guess at, to estimate, to aim, OF. esmer, asmer, fr. L. aestimare to estimate; or perh. fr. OF. aesmer; ? (L. ad) + esmer. See Estimate.]

1. To point or direct a missile weapon, or a weapon which propels as missile, towards an object or spot with the intent of hitting it; as, to aim at a fox, or at a target.

2. To direct the indention or purpose; to attempt the accomplishment of a purpose; to try to gain; to endeavor; -- followed by at, or by an infinitive; as, to aim at distinction; to aim to do well.

Aim'st thou at princes? --Pope.

3. To guess or conjecture. [Obs.] --Shak.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Estimate

Ap*pre"ci*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Appreciated; p. pr. & vb. n. Appreciating.] [L. appretiatus, p. p. of appretiare to value at a price, appraise; ad + pretiare to prize, pretium price. Cf. Appraise.]

1. To set a price or value on; to estimate justly; to value.

To appreciate the motives of their enemies. --Gibbon.

3. To raise the value of; to increase the market price of; -- opposed to depreciate. [U.S.]

Lest a sudden peace should appreciate the money. --Ramsay.

4. To be sensible of; to distinguish.

To test the power of bees to appreciate color. --Lubbock.

Syn: To Appreciate, Estimate, Esteem.

Usage: Estimate is an act of judgment; esteem is an act of valuing or prizing, and when applied to individuals, denotes a sentiment of moral approbation. See Estimate. Appreciate lies between the two. As compared with estimate, it supposes a union of sensibility with judgment, producing a nice and delicate perception. As compared with esteem, it denotes a valuation of things according to their appropriate and distinctive excellence, and not simply their moral worth. Thus, with reference to the former of these (delicate perception), an able writer says. "Women have a truer appreciation of character than men;" and another remarks, "It is difficult to appreciate the true force and distinctive sense of terms which we are every day using." So, also, we speak of the difference between two things, as sometimes hardly appreciable. With reference to the latter of these (that of valuation as the result of a nice perception), we say, "It requires a peculiar cast of character to appreciate the poetry of Wordsworth;" "He who has no delicacy himself, can not appreciate it in others;" "The thought of death is salutary, because it leads us to appreciate worldly things aright." Appreciate is much used in cases where something is in danger of being overlooked or undervalued; as when we speak of appreciating the difficulties of a subject, or the risk of an undertaking. So Lord Plunket, referring to an "ominous silence" which prevailed among the Irish peasantry, says, "If you knew how to appreciate that silence, it is more formidable than the most clamorous opposition." In like manner, a person who asks some favor of another is apt to say, "I trust you will appreciate my motives in this request." Here we have the key to a very frequent use of the word. It is hardly necessary to say that appreciate looks on the favorable side of things. we never speak of appreciating a man's faults, but his merits. This idea of regarding things favorably appears more fully in the word appreciative; as when we speak of an appreciative audience, or an appreciative review, meaning one that manifests a quick perception and a ready valuation of excellence.