approximate: Meaning and Definition of

ap•prox•i•mate

1. near or approaching a certain state, condition, goal, or standard.
2. nearly exact; not perfectly accurate or correct: The approximate time was 10 o'clock.
3. near; close together.
4. very similar; nearly identical.

1. to come near to; approach closely to: to approximate an ideal.
2. to estimate: We approximated the distance at three miles.
3. to simulate; imitate closely: The motions of the stars can be approximated in a planetarium.
4. to bring near.

1. to come near in position, character, amount, etc.