approximate

• POS: Adjective, Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: ap=prox=i=mate

CIDE DICTIONARY

approximate, a. [L. approximatus, p. p. of approximare to approach; ad + proximare to come near. See Proximate.].

•  Approaching; proximate; nearly resembling.  [1913 Webster]
•  Near correctness; nearly exact; not perfectly accurate; as, approximate results or values.  [1913 Webster]

Approximate quantities (Math.), those which are nearly, but not, equal.

approximate, v. t. 

•  To carry or advance near; to cause to approach.  [1913 Webster]

  "To approximate the inequality of riches to the level of nature."  [1913 Webster]
•  To come near to; to approach.  [1913 Webster]

  "The telescope approximates perfection."  [1913 Webster]

approximate, v. i. 

 To draw; to approach.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

approximate, adj. & v.
--adj.
1 fairly correct or accurate; near to the actual (the approximate time of arrival; an approximate guess).
2 near or next (your approximate neighbour).
--v.tr. & intr. (often foll. by to) bring or come near (esp. in quality, number, etc.), but not exactly (approximates to the truth; approximates the amount required).

Derivative

approximately adv. approximation n.

Etymology

LL approximatus past part. of approximare (as AD-, proximus very near)

THESAURUS

approximate

accost, advance, advancing, ape, appear like, approach, approaching, appropinquate, approximating, approximative, arm-in-arm, assimilate, attracted to, be around, be like, be near, be redolent of, bear down on, bear down upon, bear resemblance, bear up, begin to, bring near, bring to mind, burning, call, call to mind, call up, cheek-by-jowl, close, close in, close with, come, come close, come closer, come forward, come near, come on, come up, coming, comparable, compare with, confront, connaturalize, copy, correspond, counterfeit, draw near, draw nigh, drawn to, encounter, estimated, evoke, favor, follow, forthcoming, gain upon, get warm, hand-in-hand, homologous, hot, imitate, imminent, imprecise, inaccurate, incorrect, inexact, intimate, judge, lax, like, look like, loose, match, mimic, mirror, much at one, much the same, narrow the gap, near, near the mark, nearing, nearish, nearly reproduce, nearly the same, negligent, nigh, nighish, not tell apart, oncoming, out of line, out of plumb, out of square, out of true, parallel, partake of, place, propinque, proximal, proximate, put, quasi, reckon, relatable, relative, remind one of, resemble, rough, rude, same but different, savor of, seem like, side-by-side, sidle up to, similar, similarize, simulate, smack of, sound like, stack up with, step up, suggest, take after, to come, unfactual, unprecise, unrigorous, upcoming, verge on, vicinal, warm

ROGET THESAURUS

approximate

Similarity

VB be similar, look like, resemble, bear resemblance, smack of, savor of, approximate, parallel, match, rhyme with, take after, imitate, favor, span, render similar, assimilate, approximate, bring near, connaturalize, make alike, rhyme, pun, be similar, look like, resemble, bear resemblance, smack of, savor of, approximate, parallel, match, rhyme with, take after, imitate, favor, span, render similar, assimilate, approximate, bring near, connaturalize, make alike, rhyme, pun.

N similarity, resemblance, likeness, similitude, semblance, affinity, approximation, parallelism, agreement, analogy, analogicalness, correspondence, homoiousia, parity, connaturalness, connaturality, brotherhood, family likeness, alliteration, rhyme, pun, repetition, sameness, uniformity, isogamy, analogue, the like, match, pendant, fellow companion, pair, mate, twin, double, counterpart, brother, sister, one's second self, alter ego, chip of the old block, par nobile fratrum, Arcades ambo, birds of a feather, et hoc genus omne, gens de meme famille, parallel, simile, type, image, photograph, close resemblance, striking resemblance, speaking resemblance, faithful likeness, faithful resemblance, similar, resembling, like, alike, twin, analogous, analogical, parallel, of a piece, such as, so, homoiousian, connatural, congener, allied to, akin to, approximate, much the same, near, close, something like, sort of, in the ballpark, such like, a show of, mock, pseudo, simulating, representing, exact, lifelike, faithful, true to nature, true to life, the very image, the very picture of, for all the world like, comme deux gouttes d'eau, as like as two peas in a pod, as like as it can stare, instar omnium, cast in the same mold, ridiculously like, as if, so to speak, as it were, as if it were, quasi, just as, veluti in speculum, et sic de similibus, tel maitre tel valet, tel pere tel fils, like master, like servant, like father, like son, the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree, a chip off the old block.

Nearness

VB be near, adjoin, hang about, trench on, border upon, verge upon, stand by, approximate, tread on the heels of, cling to, clasp, hug, huddle, hang upon the skirts of, hover over, burn, touch, bring near, draw near, converge, crowd, place side by side.

Approach

VB approach, approximate, appropinquate, near, get near, go near, draw near, come to close quarters, come near, move towards, set in towards, drift, make up to, gain upon, pursue, tread on the heels of, bear up, make the land, hug the shore, hug the land.