aproximam

Aproximam is the third-person plural present indicative form of the Portuguese verb aproximar, meaning they bring nearer or they approximate. It is used in both European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese and can refer to a physical approach or to estimation and rough calculation. The term appears in everyday speech as well as in formal writing when describing actions that involve making something closer or deriving an approximate value.

Grammar and usage notes: Aproximar is a regular -ar verb. In the present indicative, the form for they is approximam (eles/elas aproximam). The non-reflexive use describes a direct action on an object, such as bringing something closer or aligning figures to an estimate. The reflexive form aproximar-se (aproximam-se) is used when the subject also approaches or moves toward a reference point. In estimation contexts, aproximar is used to indicate rounding or deriving a rough value, as in statements that compare or simplify data.

Contexts and nuance: The word appears in technical writing, journalism, and everyday conversation. For example, researchers might say they aproximam os valores para facilitar a comparação (they approximate the values to facilitate comparison). In spatial expressions, aproximam-se can convey physical approach, such as eles aproximam-se do objetivo (they approach the objective). The choice between non-reflexive and reflexive forms often hinges on whether the subject acts on something directly or on itself toward a destination.

See also: Portuguese verb conjugation, aproximar, approximation in mathematics, estimation in statistics.