Defn: Expressing approbation; commending; as, an approving smile.
— Ap*prov"ing*ly, adv.
APPROXIMATE Ap*prox"i*mate, a. Etym: [L. approximatus, p. p. of approximare to approach; ad + proximare to come near. See Proximate.]
1. Approaching; proximate; nearly resembling.
2. Near correctness; nearly exact; not perfectly accurate; as, approximate results or values. Approximate quantities (Math.), those which are nearly, but not, equal.
APPROXIMATE
Ap*prox"i*mate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Approximated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Approximating.]
1. To carry or advance near; to cause to approach. To approximate the inequality of riches to the level of nature. Burke.
2. To come near to; to approach. The telescope approximates perfection. J. Morse.
APPROXIMATE
Ap*prox"i*mate, v. i.
Defn: To draw; to approach.
APPROXIMATELY
Ap*prox"i*mate*ly, adv.