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approximate

 - 6 dictionary results

ap⋅prox⋅i⋅mate

  [adj. uh-prok-suh-mit; v. uh-prok-suh-meyt] adjective, verb, -mat⋅ed, -mat⋅ing.
Use approximate in a Sentence
–adjective
1. near or approaching a certain state, condition, goal, or standard.
2. nearly exact; not perfectly accurate or correct: The approximate time was 10 o'clock.
3. near; close together.
4. very similar; nearly identical.
–verb (used with object)
5. to come near to; approach closely to: to approximate an ideal.
6. to estimate: We approximated the distance at three miles.
7. to simulate; imitate closely: The motions of the stars can be approximated in a planetarium.
8. to bring near.
–verb (used without object)
9. to come near in position, character, amount, etc.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME < LL approximātus drawn near to, approached (ptp. of approximāre). See ap- 1 , proximate

Related forms:
ap⋅prox⋅i⋅mate⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To approximate
ap·prox·i·mate   (ə-prŏk'sə-mĭt)   
adj.  

  1. Almost exact or correct: the approximate time of the accident.

  2. Very similar; closely resembling: sketched an approximate likeness of the suspect.

  3. Botany Close together but not united.

v.   (-māt') ap·prox·i·mat·ed, ap·prox·i·mat·ing, ap·prox·i·mates

v.   tr.

  1. To come close to; be nearly the same as: This meat substitute approximates the real thing.

  2. To bring near.

  3. To bring together, as cut edges of tissue.

v.   intr.
To come near or close, as in degree, nature, or quality.

[Middle English, from Late Latin approximātus, past participle of approximāre, to approach : Latin ad-, ad- + proximāre, to come near (from proximus, nearest; see per1 in Indo-European roots).]
ap·prox'i·mate·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

approximate  (adj.)
1646, from L. approximatus, pp. of approximare "to draw near to," from ad- "to" + proximare "come near," from proximus "nearest," superlative of prope "near." The verb is 1660, from the adj.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 1ap·prox·i·mate
Pronunciation: &-'präk-s&-m&t
Function: adjective
: located close together

Main Entry: 2ap·prox·i·mate
Pronunciation: -"mAt
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: -mat·ed;-mat·ing
: to bring together <approximate cut edges of tissue> —ap·prox·i·ma·tion /&-"präk-s&-'mA-sh&n/ noun
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

approximate ap·prox·i·mate (ə-prŏk'sə-māt')
v. ap·prox·i·mat·ed, ap·prox·i·mat·ing, ap·prox·i·mates
To bring together, as cut edges of tissue. adj. (-mĭt)

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

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

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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