to make contact with or gain access to; be able to reach, approach, enter, etc.: Bank customers can access their checking accounts instantly through the new electronic system.

10.

Computers. to locate (data) for transfer from one part of a computer system to another, generally between an external storage device and main storage.

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Access is one of our favorite verbs.

So is kibitz. Does it mean:

to run away hurriedly; flee.

chat, to converse

LEARN MORE FUN, UNUSUAL VERBS WITH WORD DYNAMO...

adjective

11.

Television. (of programming, time, etc.) available to the public: Six channels now offer access services.

Origin:
1275–1325; Middle English accesse (< Old French acces) < Latin accessus an approach, equivalent to acced-, variant stem of accēdere to accede + -tus suffix of v. action

Related forms

pre·ac·cess, noun

Can be confused: access, assess, excess.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source

Link To ACCESS

Example Sentences

For years, newspaper companies have been offering Web access free .

To access the music, you'll have to install software from the site.

Most of its revenues come from its internet-access business, which is in decline.

EXPAND

Collins

World English Dictionary

access (ˈæksɛs)

—n
1.	the act of approaching or entering
2.	the condition of allowing entry, esp (of a building or room) allowing entry by wheelchairs, prams, etc
3.	the right or privilege to approach, reach, enter, or make use of something
4.	a way or means of approach or entry
5.	the opportunity or right to see or approach someone: she fights for divorce and free access to her children
6.	(modifier) designating programmes made by the general public as distinguished from those made by professional broadcasters: access television
7.	a sudden outburst or attack, as of rage or disease

—vb
8.	to gain access to; make accessible or available
9.	(tr) computing
	a. to obtain or retrieve (information) from a storage device
	b. direct access See also sequential access to place (information) in a storage device

[C14: from Old French or from Latin accessus an approach, from accēdere to accede]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source

Etymonline

Word Origin & History

access

early 14c., "an attack of fever," from O.Fr. acces "onslaught" (14c.), from L. accessus "a coming to, an approach," pp. of accedere "approach" (see accede). Meaning "habit or power of getting into the presence of (someone or something)" is from late 14c. As a verb, first

EXPAND

recorded 1962. Accession "act of coming to a position," especially of a throne, is 1769 (first recorded in Burke).

COLLAPSE

American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

access ac·cess (āk'sěs)
n.

A means of approaching, entering, exiting, or making use of; passage.
The space required to view a tooth and manipulate dental instruments to remove decay and prepare the tooth for restoration.
The opening in the crown of a tooth necessary to allow adequate admittance to the pulp space to clean, shape, and seal the root canal.

FOLDOC

Computing Dictionary

Access definition

1. An English-like query language used in the Pick operating system.
2. Microsoft Access.
(1994-11-08)

American Heritage

Abbreviations & Acronyms

ACCESS
Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board

Word Dynamo By Dictionary.com

Searching for ACCESS?
How many words do you actually know?

FIND OUT

random access walkout -mobile access broker access charge access method

Matching Quote

"A gift opens doors; it gives access to the great."

-unknown author

Partners:Word Bloglines Citysearch The Daily Beast Ask Answers Ask Kids Life123 Sendori Thesaurus

About Privacy Policy Terms of Use API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Help