approximate

== English == === Alternative forms === approx. (abbreviation, also for adverb approximately) === Etymology 1 === From Middle English approximat(e) (“close, near (to); similar; intimate”, also used as the past participle of approximaten), from Latin approximātus, the perfect passive participle of approximō (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), further from ad- (“to, towards, at”) + proximō (“to come near”). The noun was derived from the adjective through substantivization, see -ate (noun-forming suffix). See also proximate. By surface analysis, ap- +‎ proximate. ==== Pronunciation ==== (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /əˈpɹɒk.sɪ.mət/ (US) IPA(key): /əˈpɹɑk.sə.mət/, /əˈpɹɑk.sɪ.mət/ ==== Adjective ==== approximate (comparative more approximate, superlative most approximate) Approaching; proximate; nearly resembling. Nearing correctness; nearly exact; not perfectly accurate. Near-synonym: crude (botany) Drawn close together, but not united. (Can we add an example for this sense?) ===== Synonyms ===== close ===== Antonyms ===== exact, precise ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ==== Noun ==== approximate (plural approximates) (rare) An approximate result or quantity. === Etymology 2 === From Middle English approximaten (“to bring, put close (to)”), from approximat(e) (“close, near (to); similar; intimate”, also used as the past participle of approximaten) +‎ -en (verb-forming suffix), borrowed from Latin approximātus, see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more. ==== Pronunciation ==== (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /əˈpɹɒk.sɪ.meɪt/ (US) IPA(key): /əˈpɹɑk.sə.meɪt/ ==== Verb ==== approximate (third-person singular simple present approximates, present participle approximating, simple past and past participle approximated) (ambitransitive) To estimate. (transitive) To come near to; to approach. (transitive) To carry or advance near; to cause to approach. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== == Latin == === Verb === approximāte second-person plural present active imperative of approximō