approach Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun ideas or actions intended to deal with a problem or situation
    plan of attack; attack.
    • 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
  2. noun the act of drawing spatially closer to something
    coming; approaching.
    • the hunter's approach scattered the geese
  3. noun a way of entering or leaving
    access.
    • he took a wrong turn on the access to the bridge
  4. noun the final path followed by an aircraft as it is landing
    glide path; glide slope; approach path.
  5. noun the event of one object coming closer to another
    approaching.
  6. noun a tentative suggestion designed to elicit the reactions of others
    overture; advance; feeler.
    • she rejected his advances
  7. noun the temporal property of becoming nearer in time
    coming; approaching.
    • the approach of winter
  8. noun a close approximation
    • the nearest approach to genius
  9. noun a relatively short golf shot intended to put the ball onto the putting green
    approach shot.
    • he lost the hole when his approach rolled over the green
  10. verb move towards
    go up; come near; draw near; near; draw close; come on.
    • We were approaching our destination
    • They are drawing near
    • The enemy army came nearer and nearer
  11. verb come near or verge on, resemble, come nearer in quality, or character
    border on.
    • This borders on discrimination!
    • His playing approaches that of Horowitz
  12. verb begin to deal with
    go about; set about.
    • approach a task
    • go about a difficult problem
    • approach a new project
  13. verb come near in time
    come near.
    • Winter is approaching
    • approaching old age
  14. 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

WordNet

Ap*proach" intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. approchen, aprochen, OF. approcher, LL. appropriare, fr. L. ad + propiare to draw near, prope near.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Approached; present participle & verbal noun Approaching
Definitions
  1. To come or go near, in place or time; to draw nigh; to advance nearer.
    Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city? 2 Sam. xi. 20.
    But exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Heb. x. 25.
  2. To draw near, in a figurative sense; to make advances; to approximate; as, he approaches to the character of the ablest statesman.
Ap*proach" transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To bring near; to cause to draw near; to advance. Archaic Boyle.
  2. 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.
    He was an admirable poet, and thought even to have approached Homer. Temple.
  3. (Mil.) To take approaches to.
Ap*proach" noun
Etymology
Cf. F. approche. See Approach, v. i.
Definitions
  1. The act of drawing near; a coming or advancing near. "The approach of summer." Horsley.
    A nearer approach to the human type. Owen.
  2. A access, or opportunity of drawing near.
    The approach to kings and principal persons. Bacon.
  3. pl. Movements to gain favor; advances.
  4. A way, passage, or avenue by which a place or buildings can be approached; an access. Macaulay.
  5. pl. (Fort.) The advanced works, trenches, or covered roads made by besiegers in their advances toward a fortress or military post.
  6. (Hort.) See Approaching.

Webster 1913