/ əˈpruːv; NAmE / verb
1.
[ v ] approve (of sb/sth) to think that sb/sth is good, acceptable or suitable :
I told my mother I wanted to leave school but she didn't approve.
Do you approve of my idea?
She doesn't approve of me leaving school this year.
( formal )
She doesn't approve of my leaving school this year.
OPP disapprove
2.
[ vn ] to officially agree to a plan, request, etc. :
The committee unanimously approved the plan.
➡ note at agree
3.
[ vn ] [ often passive ] to say that sth is good enough to be used, or is correct :
The course is approved by the Department for Education.
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French aprover , from Latin approbare (from ad- to + probare try, test ). The original sense was prove, demonstrate , later corroborate, confirm , hence pronounce to be satisfactory ( late Middle English ).