[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/approximate/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [A](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/a/) / approximate

# approximate

adjective (approximate); verb (approximate, approximates, approximated, approximating); adverb approximately

«approximate» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (adjective) Close to the exact number or amount, but not exactly it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/approximate/#m1)
2. (verb) To make a close guess or estimate of an amount. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/approximate/#m2)
3. (verb, formal) To come close to or be nearly like something. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/approximate/#m3)

### In the lessons

Very common in maths: an approximate answer is rounded or estimated (about 500, roughly 3.14). The sign ≈ means «is approximately equal to». In science, approximate measurements. In everyday life, approximate times and prices. Phrases: «approximate value», «approximate answer», «approximately equal to», «give an approximate».

### Examples

- The approximate distance to the beach is 5 kilometres. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/approximate/#x1)
- Give an approximate answer by rounding to the nearest ten. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/approximate/#x2)
- The approximate time of arrival is noon. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/approximate/#x3)
- Pi is approximately 3.14. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/approximate/#x4)
- Approximate 48 + 31 by rounding first. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/approximate/#x5)
- The crowd was approximately 2,000 people. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/approximate/#x6)
- This drawing only approximates the real shape. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/approximate/#x7)

### Note

Pronunciation differs: adjective ends «-mut» (a-PROX-i-mut), verb ends «-mate» (a-PROX-i-mate). In maths: an approximate number is not wrong, just not exact; words like «about», «roughly», «around», «nearly» signal rounding. Symbol ≈.

## In Jewish tradition

Very common in maths: an approximate answer is rounded or estimated (about 500, roughly 3.14). The sign ≈ means «is approximately equal to». In science, approximate measurements. In everyday life, approximate times and prices. Phrases: «approximate value», «approximate answer», «approximately equal to», «give an approximate».

### Examples

- Midrash Tanchuma 1:5 on \[Genesis 1:1\], Zohar 1:3a inter alia.\] \[note 8: Though the phrase is usually translated the ‘Thirty-Two Paths’, I find that the alliteration of ‘Wondrous Ways of Wisdom’ neatly approximates the SY’s choice of poetic vocabulary. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/approximate/#x1)

### Note

Pronunciation differs: adjective ends «-mut» (a-PROX-i-mut), verb ends «-mate» (a-PROX-i-mate). In maths: an approximate number is not wrong, just not exact; words like «about», «roughly», «around», «nearly» signal rounding. Symbol ≈.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «approximate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/approximate/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«approximate» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/approximate.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «approximate» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/approximate/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«approximate» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/approximate.html) on Mova free.