Nearby Words
verb (used with object)
1.
to come near or nearer to: The cars slowed down as they approached the intersection.
2.
to come near to in quality, character, time, or condition; to come within range for comparison: As a poet he hardly approaches Keats.
3.
to present, offer, or make a proposal or request to: to approach the president with a suggestion.
4.
to begin work on; set about: to approach a problem.
5.
EXPANDto make advances to; address.
6.
COLLAPSEto bring near to something.
verb (used without object)
7.
to come nearer; draw near: A storm is approaching.
8.
to come near in character, time, amount, etc.; approximate.
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Approach
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is fletcherise. Does it mean:
| to swindle, cheat, hoodwink, or hoax. |
| to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly. |
noun
9.
the act of drawing near: the approach of a train.
10.
nearness or close approximation: a fair approach to accuracy.
11.
any means of access, as a road or ramp: the approaches to a city.
12.
the method used or steps taken in setting about a task, problem, etc.: His approach to any problem was to prepare an outline.
13.
EXPANDthe course to be followed by an aircraft in approaching for a landing or in joining a traffic pattern: The plane's approach to the airport was hazardous.
14.
Sometimes, approaches. a presentation, offer, or proposal.
15.
approaches, Military. works for protecting forces in an advance against a fortified position.
16.
Also called approach shot. Golf. a stroke made after teeing off, by which a player attempts to get the ball onto the putting green.
17.
COLLAPSEBowling.
a.
the steps taken and the manner employed in delivering the ball: He favors a four-step approach.
b.
the area behind the foul line, from which the ball is delivered.
Origin:
1275–1325; (v.) Middle English a(p)prochen < Anglo-French, Old French a(p)rocher < Late Latin adpropiāre, verbal derivative, with ad- ad-, of Latin propius nearer (comparative of prope near), replacing Latin appropinquāre; (noun) late Middle English approche, derivative of the v.
1275–1325; (v.) Middle English a(p)prochen < Anglo-French, Old French a(p)rocher < Late Latin adpropiāre, verbal derivative, with ad- ad-, of Latin propius nearer (comparative of prope near), replacing Latin appropinquāre; (noun) late Middle English approche, derivative of the v.
Related forms
ap·proach·er, noun
ap·proach·less, adjective
re·ap·proach, verb
un·ap·proached, adjective
un·ap·proach·ing, adjective
EXPANDwell-ap·proached, adjective
COLLAPSESynonyms
1. near, close with. 3. sound out.
1. near, close with. 3. sound out.
Antonyms
6. withdraw.
6. withdraw.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To approach
Example Sentences
- There is now an opportunity to reassess the entire approach to the negotiations.
- The double-headed approach makes sense for several reasons.
- How to approach an editor for book review? .
Collins
World English Dictionary
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
approach
c.1300, from Anglo-Fr. approcher, from O.Fr. aprochier, from L.L. appropiare "go nearer to," from L. ad- "to" + L.L. propiare "come nearer," comparative of L. prope "near." Replaced O.E. neahlæcan. The noun is late 15c., from the verb. Figurative sense of "means of handling a problem, etc." is
EXPAND first attested 1905.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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