1Mathematics A function, series, or other expression which is an approximation to the solution of a problem.
〔数〕近似值
Example sentencesExamples
Applied mathematicians have found that by approximating functions by continued function expansions, called Padé approximants, they often obtain far more accurate low-order approximations than by using Taylor series expansions.
In 1899 Padé published another major work on Padé approximants which, as we noted above, looked in depth at approximants of the exponential function.
2Phonetics A consonant produced by bringing one articulator (the tongue or lips) close to another without actually touching it, as in English r and w.
〔语音〕近似音
Example sentencesExamples
It is phonologically impossible since Tamil has no [z] sound and since the retroflex approximant sometimes romanized < z > cannot appear in initial position.
The approximant r can also be regarded as a glide.