From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishapproximateap‧prox‧i‧mate1 /əˈprɒksəmət $ əˈprɑːk-/ ●●○ W3 AWL adjective APPROXIMATELYan approximate number, amount, or time is close to the exact number, amount etc, but could be a little bit more or less than it SYN rough OPP exact What is the approximate number of students in each class? These percentages are only approximate.RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say rough rather than approximate: Can you give me a rough idea of how much it would cost?
Examples from the Corpus
approximate• It is possible to make approximate allowance for backspace by releasing the source-machine off play-pause about one second late.• The weather forecaster does as he should: he attempts to give the approximate atmospheric conditions for the next few days.• The time ranges associated with these compositions are rather approximate, but are in general still perfectly valid.• The measurements are approximate, but I think they'll do.• The approximate cost of materials for the class should be around $25.• Not all old photographs are dated, but internal evidence may help to establish an approximate date.• The size of symbols indicates the approximate error associated with individual readings.• Approximate journey time to London is four hours.• A more successful variant is one for use with approximate quantities.• Our approximate time of arrival will be 10.30.• Please state on the form the approximate value of all your household goods.• An expert could give you the approximate value of the painting.approximateap‧prox‧i‧mate2 /əˈprɒksɪmeɪt $ əˈprɑːk-/ AWL verb [intransitive, linking verb] formal 1 APPROXIMATELYto be close to a particular numberapproximate to This figure approximates to a quarter of the UK’s annual consumption.2 LIKE/SIMILARto be similar to but not exactly the same as somethingapproximate to Your story only approximates to the real facts.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
approximate• That approximated a factor analysis and is conceptually easier to explain.• The ultimate beauty of the Old Course is that it is not fair, and in that it approximates life.• Sunlight is absorbed by dark surface materials and heats the surface to temperatures that sometimes approximate normal room temperature on Earth.• It becomes critical that the algorithm or program approximates sufficiently, or disaster can occur Smart materials make the situation even worse.• Click on one that most closely approximates the deck you want to build.• For this reason concentrations of potentially interfering metal ions approximating the serum levels are used in the standards.• His snoring approximated the sound of a jet taking off.• It approximates to a miniature octavo book, while others in the Dolls' House library are more like reduced folios.• However, if review is drawn too broadly it will approximate to appeal on the merits.From Longman Business Dictionaryapproximateap‧prox‧i‧mate /əˈprɒksəmətəˈprɑːk-/ adjective an approximate amount or number is not exact, but is more or less correctan approximate calculation of the overall cost of the project —approximately adverbTravelling time from London is approximately 4 hours.an area of approximately 72 hectaresOrigin approximate1 (1400-1500) Late Latin past participle of approximare “to come near to”, from Latin ad- “to” + proximare “to come near” 