estimate

English Online Dictionary. What means estimate‎? What does estimate mean?

English

Alternative forms

• æstimate (archaic)

Pronunciation

• (UK)
  • (noun): IPA^(key): /ˈɛs.tɪ.mət/
  • (verb): IPA^(key): /ˈɛs.tɪˌmeɪt/
• (US)
  • (noun):IPA^(key): /ˈɛs.tə.mət/
  • (verb): IPA^(key): /ˈɛs.təˌmeɪt/

Etymology 1

From Middle English estimat, borrowed from Latin aestimātus (“valuing, estimate”, only used in the ablative singular: "aestimātū..." (in valuing...)), from aestimō +‎ -tus (“action noun-forming suffix”).

Noun

estimate (plural estimates)

1. A rough calculation or assessment of the value, size, or cost of something.

   Synonyms: estimation, appraisal

   Coordinate term: esteem

2. (construction and business) A document (or verbal notification) specifying how much a job is likely to cost.

   Hypernym: quote
3. An upper limitation on some positive quantity.

Derived terms

Translations

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Latin aestimātus, perfect passive participle of aestimō (“to estimate”) (see -ate), older form aestumō (“to value, rate, esteem”); from Old Latin *ais-temos (“one who cuts copper”), meaning one in the Roman Republic who mints money. Compare Middle English estymatt (“reputed”) / estimat. See also the doublet esteem, as well as aim.

Verb

estimate (third-person singular simple present estimates, present participle estimating, simple past and past participle estimated)

1. To calculate roughly, often from imperfect data.
2. To judge and form an opinion of the value of, from imperfect data.

Synonyms

• appraise
• assess
• approximate

Derived terms

Translations

Etymology 3

From Latin aestimātus (“estimated”), see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and Etymology 2 for more. Originally used as the past participle of estimate; compare generate or communicate.

Adjective

estimate (comparative more estimate, superlative most estimate)

1. (obsolete, rare) estimated

Further reading

• William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “estimate”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.
• Douglas Harper (2001–2025) “estimate”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
• “estimate”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• etatisme, meatiest, seat time, tea-times, teatimes, étatisme

Italian

Etymology 1

Verb

estimate

1. inflection of estimare:
   1. second-person plural present indicative
   2. second-person plural imperative

Etymology 2

Participle

estimate f pl

1. feminine plural of estimato

Anagrams

• mestiate, metatesi

Spanish

Verb

estimate

1. second-person singular voseo imperative of estimar combined with te