adj.
Pronunciation: ' präk-s ə -m ə t
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin proximatus, past participle of proximare to approach, from proximus nearest, next, superlative of prope near ― more at APPROACH
Date: 1661
1 : immediately preceding or following (as in a chain of events, causes, or effects) < proximate , rather than ultimate, goals ― Reinhold Niebuhr>
2 a : very near : CLOSE b : soon forthcoming : IMMINENT
– prox · i · mate · ly adverb
– prox · i · mate · ness noun