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Referential vs Approximate - What's the difference?

referential | approximate |

As adjectives the difference between referential and approximate

is that referential is of a word or phrase applied to a particular person, place, or thing and not to any other while approximate is approaching; proximate; nearly resembling.

As a verb approximate is

to carry or advance near; to cause to approach.

referential

English

Adjective

(-)
  • Of a word or phrase applied to a particular person, place, or thing and not to any other.
  • Serving as a reference.

    • Derived terms

    * coreferential * coreferentially * coreferentiality * nonreferential * referential integrity * referentiality * referentially * self-referential

    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