approach

present singular third person approaches · participle present approaching · participle past approached · past approached

1. intransitiveTo come or go near, in place or time; to move toward; to advance nearer; to draw nigh.

   The deadline is fast approaching.

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   She approached the door cautiously.

   We were approached by a stranger asking for directions.

   Approach thou beacon [the Sun] to this vnder gloabe, That by thy comfortable beames I may Peruſe this letter, nothing almoſt ſees my wracke But miſerie.

   c. 1603–1606 (date written), [William Shakespeare], […] His True Chronicle Historie of the Life and Death of King Lear and His Three Daughters. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Nathaniel Butter, […], published 1608, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]

   And if ſo be that the kings wrath ariſe, and hee ſay vnto thee, wherefore approched ye ſo nigh vnto the city when yee did fight? Knew yee not that they would ſhoot from the wall?

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Samuel 11:20, column 2

   And let vs conſider one another to prouoke vnto loue, and to good workes: Not forſaking the aſſembling of ourſelues together, as the manner of ſome is: but exhorting one another, and ſo much the more, as ye ſee the day approching.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Hebrews 10:24–25, column 1

2. intransitivegolfTo play an approach shot.
3. ambitransitivefigurativelyUsed intransitively, followed by to: to draw near (to someone or something); to make advances; to approximate or become almost equal.

   He approaches to the character of the ablest statesman.

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   The great source, as it appears to me, of the power of the Divine Comedy [by Dante Alighieri], is the strong belief with which the story seems to be told. In this respect, the only books which approach to its excellence are Gulliver's Travels and Robinson Crusoe.

   1824 January, Tristram Merton [pseudonym; Thomas Babington Macaulay], “Criticisms on the Principal Italian Writers. No. I. Dante.”, in [Charles Knight], editor, Knight’s Quarterly Magazine, volume II, number I, London: […] [William Clowes] for Charles Knight, […], →OCLC, page 215

   Without these incentives to industry the Norwegian would be like the Laplander, without industry and civilisation; and the nearer he approaches to the beau idéal of those political economists—to the state of being without a taste for these foreign and expensive luxuries—the nearer he approaches to the condition of the Laplander in the comforts and enjoyments of life.

   1839, Samuel Laing, chapter IX, in A Tour in Sweden in 1838; Comprising Observations on the Moral, Political, and Economical State of the Swedish Nation, London: […] [Andrew Spottiswoode] for Longman, Orme, Brown, Green, & Longmans, […], →OCLC, page 371

4. intransitiveraretransitiveOf an immovable object or a number of such objects: to be positioned as to (notionally) appear to be moving towards (a place).

   As we drove along the driveway, the trees approaching the house seemed more eerie.

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   [T]here appears a seeming mount, made up of trees rising one higher than another, in proportion as they approach the centre.

   1712 September 16 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “FRIDAY, September 6, 1712”, in The Spectator, number 477; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume V, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 351

5. alsofigurativelytransitiveTo move toward (someone or something) in place, time, character, or value; to draw nearer to.

   He approached the age of manhood.

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   “Would counsel please approach the bench?” asked the judge.

   Approch the Chamber, and deſtroy your ſight With a new Gorgon.

   c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii], page 137, column 2

   He [Empedocles] was an admirable Poet, and thought even to have approached Homer, in a Poem he writ of Natural Philoſophy; [...]

   a. 1700 (date written), William Temple, “Some Thoughts upon Reviewing the Essay of Antient and Modern Learning”, in Miscellanea. The Third Part. […], London: […] Jonathan Swift, […] Benjamin Tooke, […], published 1701, →OCLC, page 223

   […] I ſtuck all the Ground without my Wall, for a great way every way, as full with Stakes or Sticks of the Osier-like Wood, which I found ſo apt to grow, as they could well ſtand; inſomuch, that I believe I might ſet in near twenty thouſand of them, leaving a pretty large Space between them and my Wall, that I might have room to ſee an Enemy, and they might have no ſhelter from the young Trees, if they attempted to approach my outer Wall.

   1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC, pages 190–191

   When one approaches the nest of this species, the male exhibits the greatest anxiety respecting its safety, passes and repasses, fluttering and snapping its bill within a few feet, as if determined to repel the intruder.

   1831, John James Audubon, “The American Redstart. Muscicapa Ruticilla, Linn. […]”, in Ornithological Biography, or An Account of the Habits of the Birds of the United States of America; […], Edinburgh: Adam Black, […], →OCLC, page 234

6. transitiveTo bring (something) near something else; to cause (something) to draw near.

   "My story is not long," said the artist; "but your honour had better sit while you listen to it." So saying, he approached to the fire a three-footed stool, and took another himself, […]

   1821 January 8, [Walter Scott], chapter X, in Kenilworth; a Romance. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; and John Ballantyne, […]; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, page 263

7. transitivemathematical analysisUsed when defining limits, preceded by as: To become arbitrarily close to some value, be it a number, vector or infinity and have an effect on another value.
8. transitiveTo attempt to make (a policy) or solve (a problem).

   Mr. Moonlight Quill, mysterious, exotic, and oriental in temperament was, nevertheless, a man of decision. And it was with decision that he approached the problem of his wrecked shop.

   1922 September, F[rancis] Scott Fitzgerald, “O Russet Witch!”, in Tales of the Jazz Age, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, →OCLC, part II, pages 243–244

9. transitiveTo bring up or propose to (someone) an idea, question, request, etc.

   "Why bother publishing my conversations. It has not helped you, and it is not going to help anybody else", said U. G. when I approached him with the idea of publishing excerpts from his conversations with the constant stream of people who go to visit him.

   1987, Dinesh Vaghela, “Publisher’s Note”, in Uppaluri Gopala Krishnamurti, edited by Terry Newland, Mind is a Myth: Disquieting Conversations with the Man Called U. G., Vallabhvidyanagar, Gujarat: Crest Associates, →OCLC, page 7

10. archaiceuphemistictransitiveTo have sexual intercourse with (someone).

    None of you ſhall approche to any that is neere of kinne to him, to vncouer their nakedneſſe: I am the Lord.

    1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Leviticus 18:6, column 1

    Synonyms: cohabit, common, company, copulate, couple, engage in sex, exchange flesh, have intimate relations

11. transitivegovernmentTo take approaches to (a place); to move towards (a place) by using covered roads, trenches, or other works.

plural approaches

1. alsofigurativelyAn act of drawing near in place or time; an advancing or coming near.

   Ah, what a ſigne it is of euill life, Where death's approach is ſeene ſo terrible.

   1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii], page 136, column 2

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   Nauar had notice of your faire approch. And he and his compettitours in oth, Were all addreſt to meete you gentle Lady Before I came: […]

   c. 1595–1596 (date written), W. Shakespere [i.e., William Shakespeare], A Pleasant Conceited Comedie Called, Loues Labors Lost. […] (First Quarto), London: […] W[illiam] W[hite] for Cut[h]bert Burby, published 1598, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]

   Theſe Things, and the Approach of Night, called us off, or elſe, as Friday would have had us, we ſhould certainly have taken the Skin of this monſtrous Creature off, which was worth ſaving; but we had near three Leagues to go, and our Guide haſten'd us; ſo we left him, and went forward on our Journey.

   1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC, page 353

   She comes! the Cloud-compelling pow'r, behold! With night primæval, and with Chaos old. […] Thus at her felt approach, and ſecret might, Art after Art goes out, and all is Night.

   1729, [Alexander Pope], “Book the Third”, in The Dunciad. With Notes Variorum, and the Prolegomena of Scriblerus, London: […] Lawton Gilliver […], →OCLC, pages 169–170, lines 337–338 and 345–346

   The approach of summer, says our Lord, is not more surely indicated by the first appearances of spring, than the final destruction of the wicked by the beginnings of vengeance on this impenitent people.

   1811, Samuel Horsley, “Sermon I. St. James v. 8. For the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”, in Sermons, volume I, New York, N.Y.: […] T. and J. Swords, […], →OCLC, page 10

   "A merry Christmas, uncle! God save you!" cried a cheerful voice. It was the voice of Scrooge's nephew, who came upon him so quickly that this was the first intimation he had of his approach.

   1843 December 19, Charles Dickens, “Stave I. Marley’s Ghost.”, in A Christmas Carol. […], London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 6

2. An act of coming near in character or value; an approximation.

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   The canine, judging from the figures published by M. [Édouard] Lartet, seems to be less developed than in the male chimpanzees, gorillas and orang. In which character the fossil, if it belonged to a male, makes a nearer approach to the human type; but it is one which many of the inferior monkeys also exhibit, and is by no means to be trusted as significant of true affinity, supposing even the sex of the fossil to be known as being male.

   1859 May 10, Richard Owen, “Appendix B. On the Orang, Chimpanzee, and Gorilla, with Reference to the ‘Transmutation of Species.’”, in On the Classification and Geographical Distribution of the Mammalia, […], London: John W[illiam] Parker and Son, […], →OCLC, page 85

3. alsofigurativelyAn avenue, passage, or way by which a building or place can be approached; an access.

   Where are my lines then? my approaches? views? Where are my window-ſongs?

   [1633], George Herbert, “Dulnesse”, in [Nicholas Ferrar], editor, The Temple. Sacred Poems, and Private Ejaculations, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] Thomas Buck and Roger Daniel; and are to be sold by Francis Green, […], →OCLC, page 108

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   […] he ſaw As of the ſun or moon illuming clear The palace of Phæacia's mighty King. […] Maſtiffs, in gold and ſilver, lined the approach On either ſide, by art celeſtial framed Of Vulcan, guardian of Alcinoüs gate For ever, unobnoxious to decay.

   1791, Homer, “[The Odyssey.] Book VII.”, in W[illiam] Cowper, transl., The Iliad and Odyssey of Homer, Translated into Blank Verse, […], volume II, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], →OCLC, page 151, lines 100–102 and 109–112

   It was, therefore, natural to expect that the main attack would come from the north along the railroad, and from the east, where the approach from the Transvaal boundary, which is there marked by the Buffalo River, is over a country much more practicable than the western mountain range.

   1900, A[lfred] T[hayer] Mahan, “The Opening Campaign in Natal to the Investment of Ladysmith (October 11–November 2)”, in The War in South Africa: A Narrative of the Anglo-Boer War from the Beginning of Hostilities to the Fall of Pretoria, New York, N.Y.: Peter Fenelon Collier & Son, →OCLC, page 31, column 2

   1. alsofigurativelyclimbingA path taken to reach the climbing area, for example, from a car park, road, etc.
4. figurativelyA manner of making (a policy) or solving (a problem, etc.).

   Its [the United States Environmental Protection Agency's] initial approach to controlling the amount of lead in the ambient air was to limit lead emissions from automobiles by restricting the amount of lead in gasoline.

   1980 June 27, J[ames] Skelly Wright, Chief Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, “Lead Industries Association, Inc., Petitioner, v. Environmental Protection Agency, Respondent (No. 78-2201)”, in Federal Reporter […] (2nd Series), volume 647, numbers 1–3, St. Paul, Minn.: West Publishing Co., published 1981, →OCLC, page 1136

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   Our proposed definitional approach to the data processing-communications dilemma evoked considerable discussion. There is uniform disagreement and confusion as to the regulatory implications of the proposed definitional terms.

   1980 May 2, “In the Matter of Amendment of Section 64.702 of the Commission’s Rules and Regulations (Second Computer Inquiry): Final Decision”, in Federal Communications Commission Reports: Decisions and Reports of the Federal Communications Commission of the United States (Docket no. 20828; FCC 80-189), volume 76 (2nd Series), Washington, D.C., published 1982, →OCLC, section IV (Comments), paragraph 41, page 402

   The functional approach [to separation of powers issues] emphasizes the core functions of each branch and asks whether the challenged action threatens the essential attributes of the legislative, executive, or judicial function or functions. Under this approach, there is considerable flexibility in the moving branch, usually Congress acting to make structural or institutional change, if there is little significant risk of impairment of a core function or in the case of such a risk if there is a compelling reason for the action.

   1989, Congressional Research Service, “Article I: Legislative Power: Separation of Powers Limitations”, in Johnny H. Killian, George A. Costello, editors, The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation: 1988 Supplement: […] (100th Congress, 2nd Session, Senate Document; no. 100-43; United States Congressional Serial Set; no. 13854), Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, →OCLC, page 4

5. archaicAn opportunity of drawing near; access.

   The Learned met with free Approach, Although they came not in a Coach.

   1726, [Jonathan Swift], Cadenus and Vanessa. A Poem, London: […] J. Roberts […], →OCLC, page 21

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   Honour hath three Things in it: The Vantage Ground to doe Good: The approach to Kings and principall Persons: And the Raiſing of a Mans owne Fortunes.

   1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Ambition. XXXVI.”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC, page 221

   Now, rais'd again from low approach, She [a pin] viſits in the doctor's coach; Here, there, by various fortune toſt, At laſt in Greſham hall was loſt.

   1727, [John] Gay, “Fable XVI. The Pin and the Needle.”, in Fables, 2nd edition, volume I, London: […] J[acob] Tonson and J. Watts, published 1728, →OCLC, page 1

   Nor, though placed amongst a ruthless crew and every hour passed by ruthless hands, and through the livelong nights shrouded with thick darkness which might cover any pilfering approach, nevertheless every sunrise found the doubloon where the sunset left it last.

   1851 November 14, Herman Melville, “The Doubloon”, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 479

6. alsoattributiveaeronauticsThe way an aircraft comes in to land at an airport.

   Most small airplanes maintain a speed well in excess of 1.3 times V_(SO) on an instrument approach. An airplane with a stall speed of 50 knots (V_(SO)) has a normal approach speed of 65 knots.

   2001, “Aerodynamic Factors”, in Instrument Flying Handbook 2001 (FAA-H-8083-15), Washington, D.C.: Flight Standards Service, Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, →ISBN, page 2-6, column 2

   1. alsoattributiveaeronauticsA specific procedure used for approaching and landing at an airport.

      We flew the RNAV/GPS A approach to runway 16.

7. bowlingThe area before the lane in which a bowler may stand or run up before bowling the ball.
8. abbreviationellipsisgolfEllipsis of approach shot.