[ad. L. approximāt-us pa. pple. of approximā-re (Tertull.) to draw near to, f. ap- = ad- to + proximā-re, f. proxim-us very near, next.]
A. adj.
1. Very near, in position or in character; closely situated; nearly resembling.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 159. Holding some community with our selves, and containing approximate disposition unto animation.
1859. Darwin, Orig. Spec., xii. (1876), 318. The above-named three approximate faunas of Eastern and Western America.
2. Phys. Sc. Set very close together.
1839. Johnston, in Proc. Berw. Nat. Club, I. vii. 198. Towards the base of the arm they are larger and not in contact, but they soon become approximate.
1870. Hooker, Stud. Flora, 411. Carex … spikelets 2–6, short, ovoid, approximate.
3. ellipt. Nearly approaching to accuracy; fairly or reasonably correct.
1816. Burrowes, Encycl., s.v. Arithmetic, Approximate decimals.
1831. Brewster, Optics, viii. 77. We may … obtain the approximate indices of refraction.
1853. H. Rogers, Ecl. Faith, 123. There is an approximate uniformity.
B. sb. An approximate result or quantity. rare.
1784. Waring, in Phil. Trans., LXXIV. 407. In finding approximates to the roots of given equations.
1816. Burrowes, Encycl., s.v. Arithmetic, Examples of the arithmetic of approximates.
