Approximation \Ap*prox`i*ma"tion\ n. [Cf. F. approximation, LL. approximatio.]

1. The act of approximating; a drawing, advancing or being near; approach; also, the result of approximating. [1913 Webster]

The largest capacity and the most noble dispositions are but an approximation to the proper standard and true symmetry of human nature. --I. Taylor. [1913 Webster]

2. An approach to a correct estimate, calculation, or conception, or to a given quantity, quality, etc. [1913 Webster]

3. (Math.)
   (a) A continual approach or coming nearer to a result; as, to solve an equation by approximation.
   (b) A value that is nearly but not exactly correct. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

162 Moby Thesaurus words for "approximation": access, accession, accord, accordance, addition, adjunct, advance, advent, affairs, affiliation, affinity, afflux, affluxion, agreement, alikeness, alliance, allowance, analogy, aping, appraisal, appraisement, approach, approaching, appropinquation, appulse, assemblage, assessment, assimilation, assize, assizement, association, bond, calculation, closeness, combination, coming, coming near, coming toward, community, comparability, comparison, computation, confines, conformity, connectedness, connection, contiguity, contrariety, convergence, copying, correction, correspondence, dealings, deduction, determination, deviation, differentiation, disjunction, division, environs, equation, estimate, estimation, evaluation, evolution, extrapolation, filiation, flowing toward, foreground, forthcoming, gauging, homology, identity, imitation, immediacy, immediate foreground, imminence, imprecision, inaccuracy, inaccurateness, incorrectness, inexactitude, inexactness, instrumentation, integration, intercourse, interpolation, intimacy, inversion, involution, junction, laxity, liaison, likeness, likening, link, linkage, linking, looseness, measure, measurement, measuring, mensuration, metaphor, metric system, mimicking, multiplication, mutual attraction, nearing, nearness, negligence, neighborhood, nighness, notation, oncoming, parallelism, parity, practice, precinct, predictable error, probable error, propinquity, proportion, proximation, proximity, purlieus, quantification, quantization, rapport, rating, reduction, relatedness, relation, relations, relationship, resemblance, sameness, semblance, similarity, simile, similitude, simulation, standard deviation, subtraction, survey, surveying, sympathy, telemetering, telemetry, tie, tie-in, tolerance, transformation, triangulation, uncorrectness, unfactualness, union, unpreciseness, unrigorousness, valuation, vicinage, vicinity

Source: Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
 

approximation

Source: WordNet (r) 2.0
 

Approximation \Ap*prox`i*ma"tion\ n. [Cf. F. approximation, LL. approximatio.]

1. The act of approximating; a drawing, advancing or being near; approach; also, the result of approximating.

The largest capacity and the most noble dispositions are but an approximation to the proper standard and true symmetry of human nature. --I. Taylor.

2. An approach to a correct estimate, calculation, or conception, or to a given quantity, quality, etc.

3. (Math.)
   (a) A continual approach or coming nearer to a result; as, to solve an equation by approximation.
   (b) A value that is nearly but not exactly correct.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)