1. nearly exact: not quite exact, but only slightly more or less in number or quantity giving an approximate value
2. similar: similar in nature, appearance, or characteristics to something else gives you an approximate idea
verb (past and past participleap·prox·i·mat·ed, present participleap·prox·i·mat·ing, 3rd person present singularap·prox·i·mates)
Definition:
1. transitive and intransitive verb be similar: to be or become similar to something in nature, size, or extent a line approximating the original boundary
2. transitive verb estimate something: to make or provide an estimate, usually a rough estimate, of something
3. transitive and intransitive verb come or bring close: to come or bring something close to something else
[15th century. < late Latin approximatus, past participle of approximare "draw near to" < Latin proximus "near"]
