Main Entry:

¹ap·prox·i·mate

Pronunciation:

\ə-ˈpräk-sə-mət\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Late Latin approximatus, past participle of approximare to come near, from Latin ad- + proximare to come near — more at proximate

Date:

15th century

1 : located close together <approximate leaves> 2 : nearly correct or exact <an approximate solution>

— ap·prox·i·mate·ly adverb