ENGLISH
REFERENCE

accurate

adj.
US //ˈækjɝət// UK //ˈækjʊɹət// ac·cu·rate
  1. 1 correct and exact (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate Academic

    correct in every detail and without any mistakes.

    conforming exactly to truth or to a standard; free from error or defect.

    Example

    The scientist made sure her measurements were accurate before publishing the results.

    Example

    The historical drama was praised for its accurate portrayal of life in the nineteenth century, from the costumes to the social etiquette.

    Usage

    Often used with 'highly' or 'remarkably' to show a high degree of precision.
    Pitfall
    The news report was very precision.
    The news report was very accurate.

    Use the adjective 'accurate' to describe a thing; 'precision' is a noun.

  2. 2 hitting a target (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    able to hit a target or reach a destination exactly where you intended.

    capable of hitting a target or following a course with precision.

    Example

    The player's accurate pass reached his teammate right in front of the goal.

    Example

    Modern GPS systems provide accurate navigation even in remote areas where traditional maps might fail.

    Usage

    Can describe both the person aiming and the tool or weapon being used.
    • well aimed
    • on target
Origin

First attested in the 1610's with the now obsolete sense "done with care", and from the 1650's with the sense "precise, exact". Borrowed from Latin accūrātus (“done with care”), perfect passive participle of accūrō (“take care of”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ad- (“to, towards, at”) + cūrō (“take care”), from cūra (“care”) + -ō (first conjugation verb-forming suffix). Compare English cure.

Word family

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