[f. prec., or on analogy of vbs. so formed.]
1. trans. To bring close or near, to cause to approach or be near (to). Rarely, and chiefly in scientific language, of physical motion (as of molecules), but common in other relations: see 2.
1660. Barrow, Serm., Bounty to Poor. Goodness … approximates the angels to God.
1765. Johnson, Pref. Shaks., Wks. IX. 245. Shakespeare approximates the remote, and familiarizes the wonderful.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., 137. Whenever man is put over men … he should as nearly as possible be approximated to his perfection.
1806. W. Taylor, in Ann. Rev., IV. 773. The comb … with which the weaver approximates the threads of shoot.
1830. Lindley, Nat. Syst. Bot., 80. Of very uncertain affinity: its fruit approximates it to Bixineæ.
1842. W. Grove, Corr. Phys. Forces, 37. Percussion … by approximating their particles, makes them specifically more dense.
1855. Milman, Lat. Chr., IV. VII. vi. 168. Everything which approximated the human Saviour to the heart.
2. intr. To come near or close (to). Rarely (in scientific language) of physical motion, but often of the convergence of lines or surfaces, and of the position resulting from such convergence; commonly used of conceptions to which ideas of space are transferred, and of approach to similarity, identity or accuracy, in any respect.
1789–96. Morse, Amer. Geog., II. 497. Their morality approximated to that of Christianity.
1835. Sir J. Ross, N.-W. Pass., xxiii. 238. The shores gradually approximate.
1835. Gen. P. Thompson, Exerc. (1842), III. 237. Some who believe themselves to approximate to statesmen.
1848. Hardy, in Proc. Berw. Nat. Club, II. vi. 336. Those on the third segment (mesothorax) closely approximate.
1853. Lynch, Self-Improv., vi. 147. But approximate to a judgment we often must.
c. 1854. Stanley, Sinai & Pal., iv. (1858), 209. A narrower valley, almost approximating to the character of a ravine.
1857. Sir J. Stephen, Lect. Hist. Fr., xvii. II. 154. All we can expect … is to approximate to the true solution.
3. trans. (by omission of the prep.) To come close to, approach closely. Used like prec.
1789–96. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 34. As the telescope approximates perfection.
1793. Rennel, in Phil. Trans., LXXXIII. 190. Having no time keeper on board, we … can only approximate our longitude.
1794. Sullivan, View Nat., I. 100. But, we may yet approximate … a certainty that is demonstrative.
1848. W. Grove, Contrib. Sc., 348. Olefiant gas, which closely approximates air.
1883. Pall Mall G., 17 July, 4/2. Rentals approximating £4,000 per annum.
