approximation
UK[əˌprɒksɪˈmeɪʃn]US[əˌprɑːksɪˈmeɪʃn]
n
A value, quantity, or result that is not exact but is close enough to be useful.
n
The process or act of estimating or calculating something in a way that is not exact.
Morpheme Breakdown
ap
proxim
ation
ap
to, toward
proxim
nearest, very near
ation
Etymology
The word 'approximation' is built on the Latin verb 'approximare', meaning 'to come near to'. This verb itself combines 'ad-' (to) and 'proximus' (nearest). The core concept of 'proximus' is closeness, a notion that can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root pro-, related to being in front or near. Over time, the literal sense of physical nearness evolved into the mathematical and general abstract sense of finding a value or state that is sufficiently near to the correct or desired one. Thus, the modern term encapsulates the process or result of deliberately arriving at a close, though not perfect, equivalent.
Analysis
Structure: ap + proxim + ation
- ap: A variant of the Latin prefix 'ad-', meaning 'to, toward'. It assimilates before 'p'.
- proxim: From Latin 'proximus', meaning 'nearest, very near'.
- ation: A noun-forming suffix from Latin '-atio', indicating an action or process, or its result.
Examples
The figure of 3.14 is a close approximation of pi.
Our calculations are only an approximation of the total cost.
Scientists use mathematical models as an approximation of complex natural systems.