Meaning & use
rounding
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“rounding” is a form of “round”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
noununcountablemathematics
The process of changing a number to a nearby simpler value, such as the nearest whole number, ten, hundred, or set decimal place.
Grammar: Usually uncountable: accurate rounding matters in long calculations; say a rounding error, not a rounding.
Patterns
- rounding to the nearest something
- rounding of figures
- round something up or down
- a rounding error
Use rounding to check whether the total bill is about right.
The bank statement showed a small rounding difference of two cents.
Her rounding to the nearest hundred made the estimate easy to compare.
Common combinations
- rounding error
- A tiny rounding error became large after thousands of repeated calculations.
- round up to the nearest whole number
- If the fraction is half or more, round up to the nearest whole number.
- round down
- The machine will round down 3.2 to 3.
- rounding rules
- Learn the rounding rules before you estimate the shopping total.
- decimal rounding
- Decimal rounding is useful when money is shown to two places.
Synonyms and how they differ
- approximation
- Names the close value or result, while rounding is the method used to produce it.
- estimation
- Broader: a rough judgment that may not follow an exact rule, unlike rounding.
- rounding off
- Very close in meaning, but often emphasizes shortening decimals rather than the general process.
Opposites
Word family
- round verb
- To change a number to a nearby value.
- round adjective
- Having a circular shape; also used for a whole or complete number.
- rounded adjective
- Made smooth or curved; also describes a number already simplified.
- roundness noun
- The quality of being curved like a circle.
- round off phrasal verb
- To finish or simplify something, often a decimal.
Commonly confused: rounding or estimate? rounding or truncate?
rounding vs estimate
An estimate is a rough judgment, while rounding adjusts a known number by a clear rule.
rounding vs truncate
Truncation simply cuts off extra digits; rounding may raise the last kept digit.
Practice
When rounding 68 to the nearest ten, the result is ___.
Choose one answer.
68 is closer to 70 than to 60, so it rounds to 70. 65 is only a midway step, 60 would ignore the 8, and 68 means no rounding was done.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “rounding”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.