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Variation vs Approximate - What's the difference?

variation | approximate |

As a noun variation

is variation.

As an adjective approximate is

approaching; proximate; nearly resembling.

As a verb approximate is

to carry or advance near; to cause to approach.

variation

English

(wikipedia variation)

Noun

(en-noun)
  • The act of varying; a partial change in the form, position, state, or qualities of a thing
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author= David Van Tassel], [http://www.americanscientist.org/authors/detail/lee-dehaan Lee DeHaan
    • , title= Wild Plants to the Rescue , volume=101, issue=3, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Plant breeding is always a numbers game.
  • A related but distinct thing.
  • (nautical) The angular difference at the vessel between the direction of true north and magnetic north. Also called magnetic declination.
  • (board games) A line of play that differs from the original.
  • (music) A technique where material is repeated with alterations to the melody, harmony, rhythm, timbre, texture, counterpoint or orchestration; but with some invariant characteristic, e.g. a ground bass.

    • Derived terms

    * magnetic variation * theme and variations

    Related terms

    * vary * variant

    References

    * US FM 55-501 MARINE CREWMAN’S HANDBOOK; 1 December 1999 * * ----

    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