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approximation

approximation

22 4.4
A close but not exact number or description
  • noun
  • /əˌprɒksɪˈmeɪʃən/
translation icon : aproximación
  • It's obviously not a completely accurate recreation of Mary's coronation gown, but it's as close an approximation as I could make.
  • closest approximation
  • first approximation
  • good approximations

It's this robotic engine that's generating close approximations to what you've done in the past.

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Examples

  • At present, test generators provide only an approximation of the ideal test-generating system.

    Academic text (1993)
  • A set of study questions is good, but is only a crude approximation of the real thing.

    Academic text (1999)
  • And I would say that independent clear thinking is, to first approximation, impossible.

  • Well, a good first approximation would be the number of houses and cars in the world.

  • Data was hand-coded, so the number is best understood as an approximation and not an exact figure.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Translating the lyrics into English will lead only to a superficial approximation of the music and culture.

    Academic text (2015)
  • The architect's design was an approximation of the original building, capturing its essence without being exact.

  • When estimating population growth, we often rely on rough approximations rather than exact figures.

  • For our science project, we created an approximation of the solar system using common household items.

Synonyms

estimate
vsapproximation
370 2.6

A rough calculation of a number, amount or size

is the plain rough thing rather than a formal calculation
estimation
vsapproximation
15 3.4

A rough calculation of how much or how many something is

is the concrete rough version rather than the act or result itself
approximant
vsapproximation
  • Specialized
8.3

A simpler value or function used to estimate a more complex one

is a general close version rather than a specific substitute for a complex thing

Antonyms

precision
  • Specialized
157 4.2

The quality of being exact and giving the same result when repeated

2 4.1

A state of being accurate and free from mistakes

How Close

original
2.8
replica
82 3.6
model
  • Specialized
905 3.9
approximation
22 4.4
guess
768 1.0

Surface Forms

approximation singular

Morphology

approximation = approximate (transparent) = approximate + ion

A standard noun formed from the verb 'approximate' with the suffix '-ion'; the meaning 'an estimate or near version' is directly derived.

Etymology

Approximation comes from the Latin parts ad- 'to' and proximus 'nearest', and you can see the same root in proximity. So it means 'bringing something near' the real thing, which is why an approximation is a close guess or rough version, not exact.