Approach
[ə'prəʊtʃ] or [ə'protʃ]
Definition
(noun.) the act of drawing spatially closer to something; 'the hunter's approach scattered the geese'.
(noun.) a relatively short golf shot intended to put the ball onto the putting green; 'he lost the hole when his approach rolled over the green'.
(noun.) ideas or actions intended to deal with a problem or situation; 'his approach to every problem is to draw up a list of pros and cons'; 'an attack on inflation'; 'his plan of attack was misguided'.
(noun.) a close approximation; 'the nearest approach to genius'.
(noun.) the temporal property of becoming nearer in time; 'the approach of winter'.
(noun.) the event of one object coming closer to another.
(verb.) make advances to someone, usually with a proposal or suggestion; 'I was approached by the President to serve as his adviser in foreign matters'.
(verb.) come near in time; 'Winter is approaching'; 'approaching old age'.
(verb.) move towards; 'We were approaching our destination'; 'They are drawing near'; 'The enemy army came nearer and nearer'.
Typist: Remington--From WordNet
Definition
(v. i.) To come or go near, in place or time; to draw nigh; to advance nearer.
(v. i.) To draw near, in a figurative sense; to make advances; to approximate; as, he approaches to the character of the ablest statesman.
(v. t.) To bring near; to cause to draw near; to advance.
(v. t.) To come near to in place, time, or character; to draw nearer to; as, to approach the city; to approach my cabin; he approached the age of manhood.
(v. t.) To take approaches to.
(v. i.) The act of drawing near; a coming or advancing near.
(v. i.) A access, or opportunity of drawing near.
(v. i.) Movements to gain favor; advances.
(v. i.) A way, passage, or avenue by which a place or buildings can be approached; an access.
(v. i.) The advanced works, trenches, or covered roads made by besiegers in their advances toward a fortress or military post.
(v. i.) See Approaching.
Checker: Lorrie
Synonyms and Synonymous
v. n. Approximate, draw near, draw nigh, come near, be at hand.
v. a. Resemble, come near to, be like.
n. [1]. Advance, approximation, advent, coming, drawing near.[2]. Access, admittance, admission.
Checker: Sondra
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Access, avenue, entrance, adit, vestibule, arrival, approximation, advent,Bearing, admission, appropinquation, admittance, mode, path, way, advance,similarity
ANT:Exit, egress, debouchure, outlet, departure, recession, distance, diversity,disparity
Checked by Bryant
Definition
v.i. to draw near: to draw nigh (of time or events): to come near in quality condition &c.: (arch.) to come into personal relations with a person.—v.t. to come near to: to resemble: attain to: to bring near in any sense.—n. a drawing near to in military attack in personal relations: access: a path or avenue: approximation: (pl.) trenches &c. by which besiegers strive to reach a fortress.—n. Approachabi′lty.—adj. Approach′able.
Edited by Georgina
Examples
- Will it spring, will it leap out if I approach? Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- Therein that first classe I was, thence I had been watching him; but there I could not find courage to await his approach. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- As he approached her Jane's heart beat faster and her eyes brightened as they had never done before at the approach of any man. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
- She had not far retraced her steps when sounds in front of her betokened the approach of persons in conversation along the same path. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- Everything was, in short, as it should be on the approach of so considerable an event. Edith Wharton. The Age of Innocence.
- In general she recoiled from touch or close approach with a mixture of embarrassment and coldness far from flattering to those who offered her aid. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- A number of horses pasturing in the field rushed away at his approach, nor, though he called them loudly, did they pause in their wild career. Fergus Hume. The Island of Fantasy.
- When this date approaches bands of natives set out from their primitive homes and go, in many instances, hundreds of miles into the forest lowlands. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- In short, every one of his faults we either endeavour to extenuate, or dignify it with the name of that virtue, which approaches it. David Hume. A Treatise of Human Nature.
- I stopped the recruiting service, and disposed the troops about the outskirts of the city so as to guard all approaches. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- No landscape exists that is more tiresome to the eye than that which bounds the approaches to Jerusalem. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- The experience of the 22d convinced officers and men that this was best, and they went to work on the defences and approaches with a will. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- Some step approaches, and not Henry's. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- Evening approaches, said I, as I looked towards the window. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- Which of them had a step so quiet, a hand so gentle, but I should have heard or felt her, if she had approached or touched me in a day-sleep? Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- There was a short silence, during which the two spectators approached the bed. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- Had the shape approached me I might have swooned. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- As he approached her Jane's heart beat faster and her eyes brightened as they had never done before at the approach of any man. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
- As I approached she heard me, and turned round. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- When the mighty luminary approached within a few degrees of the tempest-tossed horizon, suddenly, a wonder! Mary Shelley. The Last Man.
- These cries redoubled in intensity as the stranger approached her bed; when he took her up, Let alone! Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- That depends,' said Mrs. Bardell, approaching the duster very near to Mr. Pickwick's elbow which was planted on the table. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- On account of your approaching marriage with her? Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- The march, now, had to be made with great caution, for he was approaching Lee's army and nearing the country that still remained open to the enemy. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- It was not, however, till the invention of telegraphs that anything approaching to the means of holding regular communication by signals was attained. Frederick C. Bakewell. Great Facts.
- A post-chaise was approaching. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- You are very diligent at that sewing, Miss Caroline, continued the girl, approaching her little table. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- Before giving him any order as to the part he was to play in the approaching campaign I invited his views. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
Checked by Ellen