Approximate
Part of Speech
Adjective, Verb
Pronunciation
/əˈprɒksɪmət/
Definitions
- Adjective: Close to but not exactly equal to; nearly correct or exact.
- Verb: To come close to or be near to in quantity, quality, or degree.
Usage Examples
- The approximate cost of the project was $500,000.
- The approximate time of arrival is 3 PM.
- We can approximate the size of the house based on its exterior dimensions.
Etymology
The word "approximate" comes from the Latin word "approximatus," which means "to come near." The term evolved through Old French as "approchier" and eventually became "approximate" in English in the 15th century.
Synonyms
- Near
- Rough
- Close
- Estimation
- Nearly
Translations
Language |
Translation |
Pronunciation |
English |
Approximate |
/əˈprɒksɪmət/ |
Spanish |
Aproximado |
/aˈpɾok.siˈmaðo/ |
French |
Approximatif |
/apʁɔksimatif/ |
German |
Ungefähr |
/ʊnɡəˈfɛːɐ/ |
Chinese (Simplified) |
大约 |
/dà yuē/ |
Arabic |
تقريباً |
/taqrīban/ |
Russian |
Приблизительно |
/priblizitelʹno/ |
Hindi |
लगभग |
/lagbhag/ |
Bengali |
প্রায় |
/prāẏ/ |
Tamil |
சுமார் |
/sumāṟ/ |
Telugu |
సుమారు |
/sumāru/ |
Gujarati |
લગભગ |
/lagbhag/ |
Marathi |
सुमारे |
/sumāre/ |
Malayalam |
ആകുന്നു |
/ākuṉṉu/ |
Kannada |
ಸುಮಾರು |
/sumāru/ |
Punjabi |
ਲਗਭਗ |
/lagbhag/ |
Odia |
ପ୍ରାୟ |
/prāẏ/ |
Sanskrit |
लग्भग |
/lagbhag/ |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
In English, the word "approximate" is pronounced similarly across most dialects. However, in American English, the "a" sound in the first syllable might be slightly more open, while British English tends to have a closed "a" sound.
Historical Usage
First used in the late 15th century, "approximate" originally appeared in English in contexts relating to closeness or near similarity. Over time, it evolved to encompass various disciplines like mathematics, engineering, and common speech, particularly when exact numbers or answers are unnecessary but a close estimate is required.
Cultural Nuances
The use of the word "approximate" is often seen in scientific, economic, and everyday contexts to signify something that is close to the truth or the correct value but not quite exact. In different cultures, an "approximate" value may be seen as both practical and sufficient, indicating flexibility or understanding in estimating results.
More Information
The term "approximate" is an essential part of everyday language as well as technical fields like science and mathematics, where exact numbers are often not possible or necessary. It provides a way to express a close estimation without requiring precision, making it a useful and versatile word in both informal and formal contexts.