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Weigh vs Estimate - What's the difference?

weigh | estimate | Related terms |

As verbs the difference between weigh and estimate

is that weigh is to determine the weight of an object while estimate is to calculate roughly, often from imperfect data.

As a noun estimate is

a rough calculation or guess.

weigh

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To determine the weight of an object.
  • Often with "out", to measure a certain amount of something by its weight, e.g. for sale.
  • He weighed out two kilos of oranges for a client.
  • (figuratively) To determine the intrinsic value or merit of an object, to evaluate.
  • You have been weighed in the balance and found wanting.
  • (intransitive, figuratively, obsolete) To judge; to estimate.
  • * Spenser
  • could not weigh of worthiness aright
  • To consider a subject. (rfex)
  • To have a certain weight.
  • I weigh ten and a half stone.
  • To have weight; to be heavy; to press down.
  • * Cowper
  • They only weigh the heavier.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Cleanse the stuffed bosom of that perilous stuff / Which weighs upon the heart.
  • To be considered as important; to have weight in the intellectual balance.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Your vows to her and me will even weigh .
  • * John Locke
  • This objection ought to weigh with those whose reading is designed for much talk and little knowledge.
  • (nautical) To raise an anchor free of the seabed.
  • (nautical) To weigh anchor.
  • * 1624 , , Generall Historie , in Kupperman 1988, p. 91:
  • Towards the evening we wayed , and approaching the shoare [...], we landed where there lay a many of baskets and much bloud, but saw not a Salvage.
  • *1841 , (Edgar Allan Poe), ‘A Descent into the Maelström’:
  • *:‘Here we used to remain until nearly time for slack-water again, when we weighed and made for home.’
  • To bear up; to raise; to lift into the air; to swing up.
  • * Cowper
  • Weigh the vessel up.
  • (obsolete) To consider as worthy of notice; to regard.
  • * Shakespeare
  • I weigh not you.
  • * Spenser
  • all that she so dear did weigh

    Derived terms

    * weigh down * weigh in/weigh-in * weight * weighty * weigh up * weigh on

    estimate

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (archaic)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A rough calculation or guess.
  • (construction and business) A document (or verbal notification) specifying how much a job will probably cost.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1928, author=Lawrence R. Bourne
  • , title=Well Tackled! , chapter=3 citation , passage=“They know our boats will stand up to their work,” said Willison, “and that counts for a good deal. A low estimate from us doesn't mean scamped work, but just that we want to keep the yard busy over a slack time.”}}

    Synonyms

    * estimation * appraisal

    Derived terms

    * ballpark estimate

    Verb

  • To calculate roughly, often from imperfect data.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1965, author=Ian Hacking, title=Logic of Statistical Inference, passage=I estimate that I need 400 board feet of lumber to complete a job, and then order 350 because I do not want a surplus, or perhaps order 450 because I do not want to make any subsequent orders.
  • citation
  • * '>citation
  • To judge and form an opinion of the value of, from imperfect data.
  • * John Locke
  • It is by the weight of silver, and not the name of the piece, that men estimate commodities and exchange them.
  • * J. C. Shairp
  • It is always very difficult to estimate the age in which you are living.

    Synonyms

    * appraise * guess

    Derived terms

    * estimable * underestimate * overestimate