Approximate vs. Equivalent — What's the Difference?

Almost exact or correct

Equal in value, amount, function, meaning, etc.

Very similar; closely resembling

A person or thing that is equal to or corresponds with another in value, amount, function, meaning, etc.

(Botany) Close together but not united.

The mass of a particular substance that can combine with or displace one gram of hydrogen or eight grams of oxygen, used in expressing combining powers, especially of elements.

To come close to; be nearly the same as

Equal, as in value, force, or meaning.

To bring near.

Having similar or identical effects.

To bring together, as cut edges of tissue.

Being essentially equal, all things considered

To come near or close, as in degree, nature, or quality.

Capable of being put into a one-to-one relationship. Used of two sets.

Approaching; proximate; nearly resembling.

Having virtually identical or corresponding parts.

Nearing correctness; nearly exact; not perfectly accurate.

Of or relating to corresponding elements under an equivalence relation.

(ambitransitive) To estimate.

(Chemistry) Having the same ability to combine.

(transitive) To come near to; to approach.

(Logic) Having equivalence

(transitive) To carry or advance near; to cause to approach.

Something that is essentially equal to another

Approaching; proximate; nearly resembling.

(Chemistry) Equivalent weight.

Near correctness; nearly exact; not perfectly accurate; as, approximate results or values.

Similar or identical in value, meaning or effect; virtually equal.

To carry or advance near; to cause to approach.

(mathematics) Of two sets, having a one-to-one correspondence.

To come near to; to approach.

(mathematics) Relating to the corresponding elements of an equivalence relation.

To draw; to approach.

(chemistry) Having the equal ability to combine.

Be close or similar;

(cartography) Of a map, equal-area.

Judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time);

(geometry) Equal in measure but not admitting of superposition; applied to magnitudes.

Not quite exact or correct;

Anything that is virtually equal to something else, or has the same value, force, etc.

Very close in resemblance;

(chemistry) An equivalent weight.

Located close together;

(transitive) To make equivalent to; to equal.

Equal in worth or value, force, power, effect, import, and the like; alike in significance and value; of the same import or meaning.

Equal in measure but not admitting of superposition; - applied to magnitudes; as, a square may be equivalent to a triangle.

Contemporaneous in origin; as, the equivalent strata of different countries.

Something equivalent; that which is equal in value, worth, weight, or force; as, to offer an equivalent for damage done.

That comparative quantity by weight of an element which possesses the same chemical value as other elements, as determined by actual experiment and reference to the same standard. Specifically: (a) The comparative proportions by which one element replaces another in any particular compound; thus, as zinc replaces hydrogen in hydrochloric acid, their equivalents are 32.5 and 1. (b) The combining proportion by weight of a substance, or the number expressing this proportion, in any particular compound; as, the equivalents of hydrogen and oxygen in water are respectively 1 and 8, and in hydric dioxide 1 and 16.

A combining unit, whether an atom, a radical, or a molecule; as, in acid salt two or more equivalents of acid unite with one or more equivalents of base.

To make the equivalent to; to equal; equivalence.

A person or thing equal to another in value or measure or force or effect or significance etc;

The atomic weight of an element that has the same combining capacity as a given weight of another element; the standard is 8 for oxygen

Equal in amount or value;

Being essentially equal to something;