Dictionary

1approximate

adjective ap·prox·i·mate \ə-ˈpräk-sə-mət\

: almost correct or exact : close in value or amount but not precise

Full Definition of APPROXIMATE

1
:  located close together <approximate leaves>
2
:  nearly correct or exact <an approximate solution>
ap·prox·i·mate·ly adverb
ADVERTISEMENT

Origin of APPROXIMATE

Late Latin approximatus, past participle of approximare to come near, from Latin ad- + proximare to come near — more at proximate
First Known Use: 15th century

2approximate

verb ap·prox·i·mate \-ˌmāt\

: to be very similar to but not exactly like (something) ( chiefly Brit )

: to do or make a thing that is very similar to but not exactly like (something)

: to calculate the almost exact value or position of (something)

ap·prox·i·mat·edap·prox·i·mat·ing

Full Definition of APPROXIMATE

transitive verb
1
a :  to bring near or close
b :  to bring (cut edges of tissue) together
2
:  to come near to or be close to in position, value, or characteristics <a child tries to approximate his parents' speech>
intransitive verb
:  to come close —usually used with to

First Known Use of APPROXIMATE

15th century

Rhymes with APPROXIMATE

abbreviate, abominate, accelerate, accentuate, accommodate, acculturate, accumulate, adjudicate, adulterate, affiliate, agglomerate, alienate, alleviate, alliterate, amalgamate, ameliorate, amyl nitrate, annihilate, annunciate, anticipate, apostolate, appreciate, appropriate, arpeggiate, articulate, asphyxiate, assassinate, asseverate, assimilate, associate, at any rate, attenuate, authenticate, barbiturate, bicarbonate, calumniate, capacitate, capitulate, catholicate, certificate, coagulate, coelenterate, collaborate, commemorate, commiserate, communicate, compassionate, concatenate, conciliate, confabulate, confederate, conglomerate, congratulate, consolidate, contaminate, cooperate, coordinate, corroborate, deactivate, debilitate, decapitate, decelerate, decerebrate, deconcentrate, deconsecrate, decorticate, decrepitate, de-escalate, defibrinate, defoliate, degenerate, deliberate, delineate, demodulate, denominate, depopulate, depreciate, deracinate, deregulate, desegregate, desiderate, detoxicate, devaluate, diaconate, dilapidate, discriminate, disintegrate, disseminate, dissimulate, dissociate, domesticate, effectuate, ejaculate, elaborate, electroplate, eliminate, elucidate, emaciate, emancipate, emasculate, encapsulate, enumerate, enunciate, episcopate, equivocate, eradicate, etiolate, evacuate, evaluate, evaporate, eventuate, eviscerate, exacerbate, exaggerate, exasperate, excited state, excogitate, excoriate, exfoliate, exhilarate, exonerate, expatiate, expatriate, expectorate, expostulate, expropriate, extenuate, exterminate, extrapolate, facilitate, felicitate, fish or cut bait, garrison state, gesticulate, habilitate, habituate, hallucinate, humiliate, hydrogenate, hypothecate, illuminate, impersonate, inactivate, inaugurate, incarcerate, incinerate, incorporate, incriminate, indoctrinate, inebriate, infatuate, infuriate, ingratiate, ingurgitate, initiate, inoculate, inseminate, insinuate, instantiate, intercalate, interpolate, interrelate, interrogate, intimidate, intoxicate, invalidate, investigate, invigorate, irradiate, Italianate, Korea Strait, lanceolate, legitimate, luxuriate, mandarinate, manipulate, matriarchate, matriculate, Merthiolate, necessitate, negotiate, noncandidate, obliterate, officiate, Orange Free State, orientate, originate, oxygenate, participate, particulate, patriarchate, patriciate, perambulate, peregrinate, perpetuate, pontificate, precipitate, predestinate, predominate, prefabricate, premeditate, preponderate, prevaricate, procrastinate, prognosticate, proliferate, propitiate, proportionate, quadruplicate, quintuplicate, reciprocate, recriminate, recuperate, redecorate, reduplicate, reeducate, refrigerate, regenerate, regurgitate, reincarnate, reintegrate, reiterate, rejuvenate, remunerate, repatriate, repudiate, resuscitate, retaliate, reticulate, revaluate, reverberate, scholasticate, second estate, self-flagellate, self-immolate, self-pollinate, seventy-eight, sextuplicate, Singapore Strait, sophisticate, subordinate, substantiate, syllabicate, tergiversate, transliterate, triangulate, vanity plate, variegate, vaticinate, vituperate, vociferate
APPROXIMATELY Defined for Kids

1approximate

adjective ap·prox·i·mate \ə-ˈpräk-sə-mət\

Definition of APPROXIMATE for Kids

:  nearly correct or exact <the approximate cost>
ap·prox·i·mate·ly adverb

2approximate

verb ap·prox·i·mate \ə-ˈpräk-sə-ˌmāt\
ap·prox·i·mat·edap·prox·i·mat·ing

Definition of APPROXIMATE for Kids

:  to come near in position, value, or characteristics :  approach <approximating the distance> <He tried to approximate the singer's style.>

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: approximationPrevious Word in the Dictionary: approximantAll Words Near: approximate
ADVERTISEMENT
How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.
Test your vocab with our fun, fast game
Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears