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access

 - 7 dictionary results

ac⋅cess

[ak-ses]
–noun
1. the ability, right, or permission to approach, enter, speak with, or use; admittance: They have access to the files.
2. the state or quality of being approachable: The house was difficult of access.
3. a way or means of approach: The only access to the house was a rough dirt road.
4. Theology. approach to God through Jesus Christ.
5. an attack or onset, as of a disease.
6. a sudden and strong emotional outburst.
7. accession.
8. public-access television.
–verb (used with object)
9. 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.
–adjective
11. Television. (of programming, time, etc.) available to the public: Six channels now offer access services.

Origin:
1275–1325; ME accesse (< OF acces) < L accessus an approach, equiv. to acced-, var. s. of accēdere to accede + -tus suffix of v. action
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ac·cess   (āk'sěs)   
n.  
  1. A means of approaching, entering, exiting, communicating with, or making use of: a store with easy access.

  2. The ability or right to approach, enter, exit, communicate with, or make use of: has access to the restricted area; has access to classified material.

  3. Public access.

  4. An increase by addition.

  5. An outburst or onset: an access of rage.

tr.v.   ac·cessed, ac·cess·ing, ac·cess·es
To obtain access to, especially by computer: used a browser to access a website; accessed her bank account online.

[Middle English acces, a coming to, from Old French, from Latin accessus, past participle of accēdere, to arrive : ad-, ad- + cēdere, to come; see ked- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

access 
c.1325, "an attack of fever," from O.Fr. acces "onslaught," 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 1382. As a verb, first recorded 1962. Accessible "easy to reach" first recorded 1642; meaning "easy to understand" is from 1961 (a term not needed in the years before writing or art often deliberately was made not so). Accessory/accessary first attested 1414 as a legal term in the criminal sense; 1896 as "woman's smaller articles of dress," hence accessorize (1939). Accession "act of coming to a position," especially of a throne, is 1769 (first recorded in Burke).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: ac·cess
Pronunciation: 'ak-"ses
Function: noun
often attrib 1 : permission, liberty, or ability to enter, approach, communicate with, or pass to and from a place, thing, or person access to federal land> <access to the courts>
2 : opportunity for sexual intercourse
3 : a landowner's legal right to pass from his or her land to a highway and to return without being obstructed
4 : freedom or ability to obtain, make use of, or participate in something access to these interests —L. H. Tribe>
5 a : a way by which a thing or place may be approached or reached b : passage to and from a place access to the land>
6 : opportunity to view or copy a copyrighted work
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

access ac·cess (āk'sěs)
n.

  1. A means of approaching, entering, exiting, or making use of; passage.

  2. The space required to view a tooth and manipulate dental instruments to remove decay and prepare the tooth for restoration.

  3. 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.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Computing Dictionary

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

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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Abbreviations & Acronyms
ACCESS
Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board
The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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