---
title: approximate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «approximate» in the school dictionary: Close to the exact number or amount, but not exactly it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# approximate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** approximate distance, you, approximate time, Pi, crowd, drawing · **What happens:** make, estimate, come, be, give, round · **To what, where:** close guess, amount, 5 kilometres, approximate answer, nearest ten, noon

<!-- .vabout -->
«approximate» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [approximate in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/approximate.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: adjective — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Close to the exact number or amount, but not exactly it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:approximate:m1:1
# text = Close to the exact number or amount, but not exactly it.
1	Close	close	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	exact	exact	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	number	number	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
10	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	12	advmod	_	_
11	exactly	exactly	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	1	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: verb — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To make a close guess or estimate of an amount.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:approximate:m2:1
# text = To make a close guess or estimate of an amount.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	close	close	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	guess	guess	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	estimate	estimate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	amount	amount	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | a close guess or estimate of a amount |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset guess=Product |
| 2 | **estimate** |  |  | a amount |  |  |  |  | nom estimate «cognition transitive»: of=patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: verb, formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To come close to or be nearly like something.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:approximate:m3:1
# text = To come close to or be nearly like something.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	come	come	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	close	close	ADV	RB	Degree=Pos	2	advmod	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	3	fixed	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
6	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	cop	_	_
7	nearly	nearly	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
8	like	like	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | close *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | like something; nearly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The approximate distance to the beach is 5 kilometres.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:approximate:x1:1
# text = The approximate distance to the beach is 5 kilometres.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	approximate	approximate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	distance	distance	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	kilometres	kilometre	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the approximate distance to the beach | 5 kilometres |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Give an approximate answer by rounding to the nearest ten.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:approximate:x2:1
# text = Give an approximate answer by rounding to the nearest ten.
1	Give	give	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	approximate	approximate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	rounding	round	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	nearest	near	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	10	amod	_	_
10	ten	ten	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | imperative | you *not said here* | a approximate answer |  |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent answer=Theme |
| 2 | **round** | gerund | you *not said here* |  |  | the nearest ten |  |  | vn meander-47.7 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme to ten=Location |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The approximate time of arrival is noon.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:approximate:x3:1
# text = The approximate time of arrival is noon.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	approximate	approximate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	time	time	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	arrival	arrival	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nmod	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	noon	noon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the approximate time of arrival | noon |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pi is approximately 3.14.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:approximate:x4:1
# text = Pi is approximately 3.14.
1	Pi	pi	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	approximately	approximately	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	3.14	3.14	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Pi | 3.14 |  |  |  | approximately *property* | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Approximate 48 + 31 by rounding first.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:approximate:x5:1
# text = Approximate 48 + 31 by rounding first.
1	Approximate	approximate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
2	48	48	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	1	obl:unmarked	_	_
3	+	+	SYM	SYM	_	4	cc	_	_
4	31	31	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	2	conj	_	_
5	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	rounding	round	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	1	advcl	_	_
7	first	first	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Ord	6	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **round** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | first *property* | vn bend-45.2 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The crowd was approximately 2,000 people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:approximate:x6:1
# text = The crowd was approximately 2,000 people.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	crowd	crowd	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	approximately	approximately	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	2,000	2000	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the crowd | 2,000 people |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This drawing only approximates the real shape.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:approximate:x7:1
# text = This drawing only approximates the real shape.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	drawing	drawing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	only	only	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	approximates	approximate	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	real	real	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **approximate** | present | this drawing | the real shape |  |  |  |  | vn estimate-34.2-1-1 «NP V NP.value»: agent=Agent shape=Value |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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