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Approximate vs Speculative - What's the difference?

approximate | speculative |

As adjectives the difference between approximate and speculative

is that approximate is approaching; proximate; nearly resembling while speculative is characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions.

As a verb approximate

is to carry or advance near; to cause to approach.

approximate

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Approaching; proximate; nearly resembling.
  • Near correctness; nearly exact; not perfectly accurate.
    • Approximate results or values.
    To help carry out its mission, NASA's Genesis spacecraft has on board an ion monitor to record the speed, density, temperature and approximate composition of the solar wind ions.

    Antonyms

    * exact, precise

    Derived terms

    () * approximately * approximation * approximative

    Verb

    (approximat)
  • To carry or advance near; to cause to approach.
    • To approximate the inequality of riches to the level of nature. --Burke.
  • To come near to; to approach.
    • The telescope approximates perfection. --J. Morse.
  • To estimate.

    • Quotations

    When you follow two separate chains of thought, Watson, you will find some point of intersection which should approximate to the truth.
    — Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax

    speculative

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Characterized by speculation; based on guessing or unfounded opinions.
  • *
  • *:"Don't dare laugh at us!" smiled his sister. "I wish we were back in Tenth Street. But so many children cameand the Tenth Street house wasn't half big enough; and a dreadful speculative builder built this house and persuaded Austin to buy it. Oh, dear, and here we are among the rich and great; and the steel kings and copper kings and oil kings and their heirs and dauphins. Do you like the house?"
  • *{{quote-news, year=2011, date=June 4, author=Phil McNulty, work=BBC
    • , title= England 2-2 Switzerland , passage=Tranquillo Barnetta was the grateful beneficiary of uncertain England defending and poor goalkeeping from Joe Hart as he twice saw speculative free-kicks end in the back of the net in the first half.}}

    Derived terms

    * speculativeness

    Related terms

    * speculate * speculativity

    See also

    * conjectural