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approaching

 - 4 dictionary results

ap⋅proach

  [uh-prohch]
Use approaching in a Sentence
–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. to make advances to; address.
6. to 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.
–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. the 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. Bowling.
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.) ME a(p)prochen < AF, OF a(p)rocher < LL adpropiāre, v. deriv., with ad- ad-, of L propius nearer (comp. of prope near), r. L appropinquāre; (n.) late ME approche, deriv. of the v.

Related forms:
ap⋅proach⋅er, noun
ap⋅proach⋅less, adjective

Synonyms:
1. near, close with. 3. sound out.

Antonyms:
6. withdraw.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To approaching
ap·proach   (ə-prōch')   
v.   ap·proached, ap·proach·ing, ap·proach·es

v.   intr.

  1. To come near or nearer, as in space or time: Spring approaches.

  2. Sports To make an approach, as in golf.

v.   tr.

  1. To come or go near or nearer to: approached the tunnel.

  2. To come close to, as in appearance, quality, or condition; approximate: The performance approaches perfection.

  3. To make a proposal or overtures to with a specific end in view: approached the administration for a raise.

  4. To begin to deal with or work on: approached the task with dread; approached the issue from a historical perspective.

n.  

  1. The act of approaching: the approach of night.

  2. A fairly close resemblance; an approximation.

  3. A way or means of reaching something; an access: an approach to the bridge.

  4. The method used in dealing with or accomplishing: a logical approach to the problem.

  5. An advance or overture made by one person to another.

  6. Sports

    1. The golf stroke following the drive from the tee with which a player tries to get the ball onto the putting green.

    2. The steps taken prior to executing a competitive maneuver, as by a diver before diving forward from a springboard or by a bowler before delivering the ball.

    3. The part of the area behind the foul line in a bowling alley used by a bowler in delivering the ball.


[Middle English approchen, from Old French aprochier, from Late Latin appropiāre : Latin ad-, ad- + Latin propius, nearer, comparative of prope, near; see per1 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

approach 
c.1305, from Anglo-Fr. approcher, from O.Fr. aprochier, from L.L. appropiare "go nearer to," from L. ad- "to" + L.L. propiare "come nearer," comp. of L. prope "near." Replaced O.E. neahlæcan. The noun is 1489, from the verb. Fig. sense of "means of handling a problem, etc." is first attested 1905.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ap·proach
Pronunciation: &-'prOch
Function: noun
: the surgical procedure by which access is gained to a bodily part
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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