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Inexact vs Approximate - What's the difference?

inexact | approximate | Related terms |

Inexact is a related term of approximate.


As adjectives the difference between inexact and approximate

is that inexact is imperfectly conforming; exceeding or falling short in some respect while approximate is approaching; proximate; nearly resembling.

As a verb approximate is

to carry or advance near; to cause to approach.

inexact

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Imperfectly conforming; exceeding or falling short in some respect.
  • Imprecisely or indefinitely conceived or stated
  • (physics, of a differential) having a path-dependent integral

    • Synonyms

    * (imperfectly conforming) imperfect, imprecise * (imprecisely or indefinitely conceived or stated) loose

    Antonyms

    * (precisely agreeing) exact, perfect, precise * (precisely or definitely conceived or stated) exact, strict * (having a path-dependent integral) exact

    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