Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definition: Approximation |
ApproximationNoun1. An approximate calculation of quantity or degree or worth; "an estimate of what it would cost"; "a rough idea how long it would take". 2. The quality of of being similar (especially close in value). 3. An imprecise or incomplete account; "newspapers gave only an approximation of the actual events". 4. The act of bringing near or bringing together especially the cut edges of tissue. Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "approximation" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1550. (references) |
Etymology: Approximation \Ap*prox`i*ma"tion\ noun [Compare to the French expression approximation, Late Latin expression approximatio.]. (references) |
| Domain | Definition |
Mathematics | A result that is not exact but is near enough to the correct result for some specified purpose. Source: European Union. (references) |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
The scientific method is carried out with a constant interaction between scientific laws (theory) and empirical measurements, which are constantly compared to one another.The most common versions of philosophy of science accept that empirical measurements are always approximations - they do not perfectly represent what is being measured.
The history of science indicates that the scientific laws commonly felt to be true at any time in history are only approximations to some deeper set of laws. Each time a newer set of laws is proposed, it is required that in the limiting situations in which the older set of laws were tested against experiments, the newer laws are nearly identical to the older laws, to within the measurement uncertainties of the older measurements. This is the correspondence principle.
See also orders of approximation.
Approximation theory is a branch of mathematics, a quantitative part of functional analysis. Diophantine approximation deals with approximation to real numbers by rational numbers.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Approximation."
| The following table is compiled from various sources, across various languages. When English abbreviations or acronyms come from a non-English source, this is noted. | |||
| Entry | Source | Expression | Field |
| APPR | English | Approximation | Computing |
Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |||
Synonyms: ApproximationSynonyms: bringing close together (n), estimate (n), estimation (n), idea (n). (additional references) |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Approach | Noun: approach, approximation, appropinquation; access; appulse; afflux, affluxion; advent; (approach of time); pursuit. |
Numeration | Notation, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, rule of three, practice, equations, extraction of roots, reduction, involution, evolution, estimation, approximation, interpolation, differentiation, integration. |
Relation | Noun: relation, bearing, reference, connection, concern,. cognation; correlation; analogy; similarity; affinity, homology, alliance, homogeneity, association; approximation; (nearness); filiation; (consanguinity); interest; relevancy; dependency, relationship, relative position. |
Similarity | Noun: similarity, resemblance, likeness, similitude, semblance; affinity, approximation, parallelism; agreement; analogy, analogicalness; correspondence, homoiousia, parity. |
Supposition | Conjecture; guess, guesswork, speculation; rough guess, shot, shot in the dark; conjecturality; surmise, suspicion, sneaking suspicion; estimate, approximation (nearness). |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
| Domain | Title | ||
Books |
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Periodicals |
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Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit | Thumbnail | Description & Credit |
 | "Pseudo I-WP" by Alan Schoen. An approximation to a unit cell of Schoen's I-WP surface. Click on Edit inside DPGraph for extensive comments. More ... |  | "Pseudo D" by Alan Schoen. An approximation to a unit cell of Schwarz's D surface. See the comments inside "Pseudo I-WP". More ... |
 | "Gyroid" by Carlos César de Araújo. An approximation to a triply periodic minimal surface discovered by Alan Schoen. Click on Edit inside DPGraph for more information. | ||
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Health | Predominantly adductor spasmodic dysphonia is characterized by forceful, involuntary approximation of the vocal folds. (references) | |
Business | Combined evaluation of the municipal and industrial waste data is quite useful in extrapolating an approximation for current waste management practices in Turkey. (references) | |
Political Economy | Lebanon | Israel withdrew its military forces from South Lebanon in May 2000. The United Nations determined a line of withdrawal (termed the "Blue Line") which represents the best approximation of the international border based on available data, and in June 2000, verified Israeli compliance with UN resolutions 425 and 426 pertaining to South Lebanon. (references) |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| "Approximation" is generally used as a noun (singular) -- approximately 100.00% of the time. "Approximation" is used about 334 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Noun (singular) | 100% | 334 | 15,701 |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
Expressions using "approximation": approximation algorithm ♦ approximation nearness ♦ Blum approximation ♦ piecewise linear approximation ♦ successive approximation register ♦ to a first approximation ♦ to a zeroth approximation ♦ WKB approximation. Additional references. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Language | Translations for "approximation"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | |
Albanian | vlerësim i përafërt, përafrim. (various references) | |
Arabic | قيمة تقريبية, تقريب (parataxis), تقدير تقريبي, إقتراب (access, accession, approach, approaches, oncoming). (various references) | |
Bulgarian | нещо приблизително, приблизителна сума, приближение. (various references) | |
Chinese | 略计. (various references) | |
Czech | přiblížení (approach), odhad (appraisal, appraisement, assessment, calculation, estimate, estimation, guess, rating, taxation, valuation). (various references) | |
Danish | approksimation, tilnaermelsesvaerdi, tilnaermelse (assimilation). (various references) | |
Dutch | benadering (approach). (various references) | |
Esperanto | proksimuma kalkulado. (various references) | |
Farsi | نزدیکی (Accession, Adjacency, Affinity, Contiguity, Propinquity, Proximity, Rapprochement, Verge, Vicinity), قریب بصحت , تخمین (Assessment, Conjecture, Estimate, Guess, Surmise), شباهت زیاد. (various references) | |
Finnish | approksimaatio, likimääräinen arvio, likiarvo (approximate value). (various references) | |
French | approximation. (various references) | |
German | Annäherung (approach, convergence, convergency, rapprochement). (various references) | |
Greek | προσέγγιση (access, approach, getting near, rapprochement). (various references) | |
Hebrew | קריב" (approaching, coming near), קרוב (at hand, bringing near, close, drawing near, near, nearness, next, nigh, proximity), אומ"ן (appraisal, assessment, estimate, estimation). (various references) | |
Hungarian | közelítés (approach, zoom), megközelítés (approach), közeledés (approach, oncoming). (various references) | |
Italian | approssimazione (accuracy, near-miss). (various references) | |
Japanese Kanji | 近似値 (approximate), 概算 (rough estimate). (various references) | |
Japanese Katakana | がいさ" (rough estimate), き"じち (approximate). (various references) | |
Korean | 근사. (various references) | |
Manx | faggyssaght. (various references) | |
Pig Latin | approximationay.(various references) | |
Portuguese | aproximação (access, adit, approach, forthcoming, oncoming, rapprochement). (various references) | |
Romanian | aproximaţie, apropiere (approach, closeness, coming, kindred, nearness, neighbor, neighborhood, neighbour, neighbourhood, propinquity, proximity, vicinity). (various references) | |
Russian | аппроксимация (aproximation), приблизительная точность, приближение (adit, approach, oncoming, on-coming). (various references) | |
Serbo-Croatian | aproksimacija, približnost. (various references) | |
Spanish | aproximación (approach, forthcoming, rapprochement). (various references) | |
Swedish | approximation. (various references) | |
Turkish | yaklaşma (access, approach, coming, oncoming), yakınlık (adjacency, affinity, closeness, connection, connexion, contiguity, familiarity, immediacy, imminence, intimacy, kinship, nearness, propinquity, proximity, relationship, terms), tahmin (calculation, conjecture, divination, estimate, estimation, forecast, guess, judgement, outlook, prediction, presumption, presupposition, prognostication, prophecy, shot, speculation, supposition, surmise). (various references) | |
Ukrainian | наближення (approach, coming, forthcoming, oncoming, shave), зближення (rapprochement), апроксимація, приблизна точність. (various references) | |
Vietnamese | sự gần đúng cái xấp xỉ, sự gần sự xấp xỉ, con số xấp xỉ. (various references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references. | ||
Derivations | |
Words beginning with "approximation": approximations. (additional references) | |
| |
"Approximation" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: proximation. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| # of Phoneme Matches | Pronunciation | Word(s) rhyming with "approximation" (pronounced uprÄ'ksumā"shun) |
| 7 | -s u m ā" sh u n | consummation, summation. |
| 6 | -u m ā" sh u n | acclimation, amalgamation, animation, automation, defamation, estimation, exclamation, inflammation, intimation, proclamation, reclamation. |
| 5 | -m ā" sh u n | affirmation, confirmation, cremation, dalmatian, deformation, disinformation, exhumation, formation, information, malformation, misinformation, reaffirmation, reconfirmation, reformation, transformation. |
| 4 | -ā" sh u n | facilitation, falsification, fascination, federation, fermentation, fertilization, fibrillation, figuration, filtration, abrogation, acceleration, accommodation, abbreviation, abdication, aberration, abomination, accreditation, accumulation, accusation, acidification, activation, adaptation, adjudication, administration, admiration, adoration, adulation, advocation, affectation, affiliation, agglomeration, aggravation, agitation, alienation, allegation, alleviation, allocation, alphabetization, alteration, altercation, amelioration, amortization, amplification, amputation, annexation, annihilation, annotation, anticipation, antidiscrimination, appellation, application, appreciation, approbation, appropriation, arbitration, argumentation, articulation, aspiration, assassination, assimilation, association, augmentation, authentication, authorization, aviation, avocation, balkanization, bifurcation, calculation, calibration, cancellation, cannibalization, capitalization, capitulation, carnation, castration, categorization, causation, celebration, centralization, certification, cessation, cetacean, characterization, citation, civilization, clarification, classification, coagulation, codification, cogeneration, cogitation, cohabitation, collaboration, collectivization, colonization, coloration, colorization, combination, commemoration, commendation, commercialization, communication, communization, compensation, compilation, complication, computation, computerization, concatenation, concentration, conciliation, condemnation, condensation, confabulation, confederation, configuration, confiscation, conflagration, confrontation, conglomeration, congratulation, congregation, conjugation, connotation, consecration, conservation, consideration, consolation, consolidation, constellation, consternation, constipation, consultation, contamination, contemplation, continuation, conversation, convocation, cooperation, coordination, coronation, corporation, correlation, corroboration, creation, criminalization, crustacean, culmination, cultivation, damnation, decaffeination, decapitation, deceleration, decentralization, decertification, declaration, decontamination, decoration, decriminalization, dedication, deflation, deforestation, degeneration, degradation, dehumanization, dehydration, deification, deinstitutionalization, delegation, deliberation, delineation, demarcation, demilitarization, demobilization, democratization, demodulation, demonization, demonstration, demoralization, denationalization, denomination, denuclearization, denunciation, depopulation, deportation, depravation, depreciation, depredation, deprivation, deregulation, derivation, desalination, desalinization, desecration, desegregation, desiccation, designation, desolation, desperation, destabilization, destination, determination, detonation, detoxication, detoxification, devaluation, devastation, deviation, dictation, differentiation, dilatation, dilation, discoloration, discontinuation, discrimination, disembarkation, disinclination, disinflation, disintegration, dislocation, disorganization, disorientation, dispensation, disputation, disqualification, dissemination, dissertation, dissipation, dissociation, distillation, diversification, divination, documentation, domestication, domination, donation, dramatization, duplication, duration, echolocation, edification, education, ejaculation, elaboration, elation, electrification, elevation, elimination, elongation, emanation, emancipation, embarkation, emigration, emulation, enumeration, equalization, equitation, equivocation, eradication, escalation, evacuation, evaluation, evaporation, evocation, exacerbation, exaggeration, examination, exasperation, excavation, excitation, excommunication, exfoliation, exhalation, exhilaration, exhortation, exoneration, expatriation, expectation, experimentation, expiration, explanation, explication, exploitation, exploration, expropriation, extermination, extrapolation, fabrication, fixation, flirtation, flotation, fluctuation, fluoridation, foliation, formulation, fortification, foundation, fragmentation, frustration, fumigation, gasification, gastrulation, generalization, generation, gentrification, germination, gestation, glaciation, globalization, glorification, gradation, graduation, granulation, gratification, gravitation, gyration, habitation, hallucination, harmonization, hesitation, hibernation, hospitalization, humiliation, hybridization, hydration, hydrogenation, hyperinflation, identification, illumination, illustration, imagination, imitation, immigration, immunization, impersonation, implantation, implementation, implication, importation, impregnation, improvisation, imputation, inactivation, inauguration, incantation, incapacitation, incarceration, incarnation, inclination, incoordination, incorporation, incrimination, incrustation, incubation, indemnification, indentation, indexation, indication, indignation, indoctrination, industrialization, infatuation, infestation, infiltration, inflation, inhabitation, inhalation, initiation, innovation, inoculation, insemination, insinuation, inspiration, installation, instigation, institutionalization, instrumentation, insubordination, insulation, integration, intensification, internationalization, interpretation, interrogation, intimidation, intonation, intoxication, inundation, invalidation, investigation, invitation, invocation, ionization, irradiation, irrigation, irritation, isolation, jubilation, justification, laceration, lactation, legalization, legislation, levitation, liberalization, liberation, libration, ligation, limitation, liquidation, litigation, localization, location, lubrication, machination, magnetization, magnification, manifestation, manipulation, marginalization, masturbation, maturation, maximization, mechanization, mediation, medication, meditation, menstruation, migration, mineralization, miniaturization, ministration, misallocation, misapplication, misappropriation, miscalculation, mischaracterization, miscommunication, miscreation, misidentification, misinterpretation, misrepresentation, mitigation, mobilization, moderation, modernization, modification, modulation, molestation, monopolization, motivation, multiplication, mummification, mutation, mutilation, narration, nation, nationalization, naturalization, navigation, negation, negotiation, neutralization, nitration, nomination, nondiscrimination, nonproliferation, normalization, notation, notification, nucleation, nullification, obfuscation, obligation, observation, occupation, operation, optimization, oration, orchestration, ordination, organisation, organization, orientation, origination, ornamentation, oscillation, ossification, ostentation, ovation, overpopulation, overregulation, overvaluation, ovulation, oxidation, pacification, pagination, palpitation, participation, pasteurization, penetration, perforation, permutation, perpetuation, personalization, personification, perspiration, perturbation, pigmentation, plantation, polarization, politicization, pollination, pontification, popularization, population, precipitation, predestination, prefabrication, premeditation, preoccupation, preparation, presentation, preservation, pressurization, privation, privatization, probation, procrastination, procreation, profanation, prognostication, proliferation, pronunciation, propagation, proration, prostration, protestation, provocation, publication, punctuation, purification, qualification, quantification, quotation, radiation, radicalization, ramification, ratification, rationalization, realization, reallocation, reauthorization, recalculation, recantation, recapitalization, recertification, recitation, reclassification, recommendation, reconciliation, reconfiguration, reconsideration, recreation, recrimination, rectification, recuperation, redecoration, rededication, reevaluation, reexamination, reflation, reforestation, refrigeration, refutation, regeneration, regimentation, registration, regulation, rehabilitation, rehydration, reincarnation, reincorporation, reinterpretation, reinvigoration, reiteration, rejuvenation, relation, relaxation, relocation, remediation, remuneration, renationalization, renegotiation, renomination, renovation, renunciation, reorganization, reparation, repatriation, replication, representation, repudiation, reputation, reregulation, reservation, resignation, respiration, restoration, resuscitation, retaliation, retardation, reunification, revaluation, revelation, reverberation, revitalization, revocation, rotation, rumination, salvation, sanctification, sanitation, saponification, saturation, securitization, sedation, sedimentation, segmentation, segregation, sensation, separation, sequestration, simplification, simulation, situation, socialization, solicitation, sophistication, specialization, specification, speculation, stabilization, stagflation, stagnation, standardization, starvation, station, sterilization, stimulation, stipulation, strangulation, subluxation, subordination, subsidization, substantiation, suburbanization, suffocation, superstation, syndication, tabulation, taxation, telecommunication, temptation, termination, titillation, toleration, transillumination, translation, transplantation, transportation, trepidation, triangulation, tribulation, undervaluation, unification, unionization, urbanization, usurpation, utilization, vacation, vaccination, vacillation, validation, valuation, vaporization, variation, vegetation, ventilation, verification, vibration, victimization, vilification, vindication, violation, visitation, visualization, vocation, vulgarization, westernization. |
| 3 | -sh u n | faction, fashion, fiction, fission, absolution, absorption, abstraction, academician, accession, abduction, abolition, abortion, accretion, acquisition, action, addiction, addition, admission, admonition, adoption, advection, affection, affliction, aggression, alliteration, alternation, ambition, ammunition, antiabortion, anticorruption, apparition, apportion, apprehension, ascension, ashen, assertion, assumption, attention, attraction, attribution, attrition, auction, audition, beautician, benediction, brutalization, caption, carburetion, caution, circulation, circumspection, clinician, coalition, coercion, cognition, collection, commission, commotion, compassion, competition, completion, complexion, composition, comprehension, compression, compulsion, compunction, conception, conceptualization, concession, concoction, concussion, condescension, condition, conduction, confection, confession, conjunction, connection, conniption, conscription, constitution, constriction, construction, consumption, contention, contortion, contraception, contraction, contradiction, contraption, contribution, contrition, convection, convention, conviction, convolution, convulsion, correction, corruption, counterrevolution, crucifixion, cushion, deception, decimation, decommission, decomposition, decompression, deconstruction, deduction, defection, definition, deletion, demolition, demotion, dentition, depiction, depletion, deposition, depression, dereliction, description, desertion, destitution, destruction, detection, detention, deterioration, devolution, devotion, diction, dietitian, diffraction, digression, dilution, dimension, diminution, direction, disaffection, disconnection, discretion, discussion, disinfection, disposition, disruption, dissatisfaction, dissection, dissension, dissolution, distinction, distortion, distraction, distribution, dysfunction, edition, egyptian, ejection, election, electrician, electrocution, elocution, emission, emotion, emulsion, encryption, erection, erudition, eruption, eviction, evolution, exaction, exception, excoriation, excretion, execution, exemption, exertion, exhibition, expansion, expedition, exposition, expression, expulsion, extension, extinction, extortion, extraction, extradition, flexion, formalization, fraction, freshen, friction, fruition, function, gentian, geriatrician, gumption, hessian, homogenization, hypertension, hypotension, ignition, impassion, imperfection, imposition, impression, inaction, inception, incineration, indiscretion, induction, infarction, infection, inflection, infliction, infraction, inhibition, injection, injunction, inquisition, inscription, insertion, inspection, institution, instruction, insurrection, interaction, interception, intercession, interconnection, interdiction, interjection, intermission, interruption, intersection, introduction, introspection, intuition, invention, junction, jurisdiction, juxtaposition, lilliputian, liposuction, liquefaction, locomotion, logician, lotion, magician, malfunction, malnutrition, mansion, martian, mathematician, mention, midsection, misapprehension, misconception, misimpression, misperception, mission, mortician, motion, munition, musician, nonaggression, nonfiction, nonprescription, notion, nutrition, objection, obsession, obstetrician, obstruction, ocean, omission, opposition, oppression, optician, option, overconsumption, overexpansion, overproduction, overprotection, overreaction, oversimplification, partition, passion, patrician, pediatrician, pension, perception, percussion, perfection, permission, persecution, petition, physician, politician, pollution, portion, position, possession, potion, precaution, precession, preconception, precondition, prediction, predilection, predisposition, preelection, preemption, preignition, premonition, prescription, presumption, presupposition, pretension, prevention, procession, production, profession, progression, prohibition, projection, promotion, proportion, proposition, propulsion, proscription, prosecution, prostitution, protection, ration, reaction, reassertion, reception, recession, recognition, recollection, recondition, reconstruction, redefinition, redemption, redirection, redistribution, reduction, reeducation, reelection, reflection, regression, reimposition, reinspection, reintegration, reintroduction, reinvention, rejection, remission, rendition, repercussion, repetition, reposition, repossession, repression, reproduction, requisition, resolution, restitution, restriction, resumption, resurrection, retention, retraction, retransmission, retribution, revolution, revulsion, rhetorician, sanction, satisfaction, secession, secretion, section, sedition, seduction, selection, session, solution, statistician, submission, subscription, subsection, substation, substitution, subtraction, succession, suction, superstition, supposition, suppression, suspension, suspicion, syncopation, tactician, technician, tension, theoretician, titian, traction, tradition, transaction, transcription, transection, transgression, transition, transmission, tuition, venetian, volition, workstation. |
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits. | ||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words within the letters "a-a-i-i-m-n-o-o-p-p-r-t-x" | |
-3 letters: apparition. | |
-4 letters: apportion. | |
-5 letters: animator, panmixia, protamin. | |
| Words containing the letters "a-a-i-i-m-n-o-o-p-p-r-t-x" | |
+1 letter: approximations. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
| 1. Definition 2. Synonyms 3. Crosswords 4. Usage: Commercial | 5. Images: Photo Album 6. Quotations: Non-fiction 7. Usage Frequency 8. Expressions | 9. Expressions: Internet 10. Translations: Modern 11. Abbreviations 12. Acronyms | 13. Derivations 14. Rhymes 15. Anagrams 16. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
