estimate

[v. es-tuh-meyt; n. es-tuh-mit, -meyt] /v. ˈɛs təˌmeɪt; n. ˈɛs tə mɪt, -ˌmeɪt/
verb (used with object), estimated, estimating.
1.
to form an approximate judgment or opinion regarding the worth, amount, size, weight, etc., of; calculate approximately:
to estimate the cost of a college education.
2.
to form an opinion of; judge.
verb (used without object), estimated, estimating.
3.
to make an estimate.
noun
4.
an approximate judgment or calculation, as of the value, amount, time, size, or weight of something.
5.
a judgment or opinion, as of the qualities of a person or thing.
6.
a statement of the approximate charge for work to be done, submitted by a person or business firm ready to undertake the work.
Origin
1525-35; < Latin aestimātus, past participle of aestimāre to value, estimate; see -ate1
Related forms
estimatingly, adverb
estimator, noun
preestimate, verb (used with object), preestimated, preestimating.
preestimate, noun
reestimate, verb (used with object), reestimated, reestimating.
reestimate, noun
self-estimate, noun
unestimated, adjective
well-estimated, adjective
Synonyms
1. compute, count, reckon, gauge, assess, value, evaluate, appraise. 4. valuation, calculation, appraisal.
British Dictionary definitions for estimator

estimate

verb (ˈɛstɪˌmeɪt)
1.
to form an approximate idea of (distance, size, cost, etc); calculate roughly; gauge
2.
(transitive; may take a clause as object) to form an opinion about; judge: to estimate one's chances
3.
to submit (an approximate price) for (a job) to a prospective client
4.
(transitive) (statistics) to assign a value (a point estimate) or range of values (an interval estimate) to a parameter of a population on the basis of sampling statistics See estimator
noun (ˈɛstɪmɪt)
5.
an approximate calculation
6.
a statement indicating the likely charge for or cost of certain work
7.
a judgment; appraisal; opinion
Derived Forms
estimative, adjective
Word Origin
C16: from Latin aestimāre to assess the worth of, of obscure origin

estimator

/ˈɛstɪˌmeɪtə/
noun
1.
a person or thing that estimates
2.
(statistics) a derived random variable that generates estimates of a parameter of a given distribution, such as ̄X, the mean of a number of identically distributed random variables Xi. If ̄X is unbiased, ̄x, the observed value should be close to E(Xi) See also sampling statistic
Word Origin and History for estimator
n.

1660s, from Latin aestimator, agent noun from aestimare (see estimate).

estimate

n.

1560s, "valuation," from Latin aestimatus, verbal noun from aestimare (see esteem). Earlier in sense "power of the mind" (mid-15c.). Meaning "approximate judgment" is from 1580s. As a builder's statement of projected costs, from 1796.

v.

1530s, "appraise the worth of," from Latin aestimatus, past participle of aestimare "to value, appraise" (see esteem). Meaning "form an approximate notion" is from 1660s. Related: Estimated; estimates; estimating.