approach
nounEtymology From Middle English approche (“approach, arrival”), from approchen, aprochen (“to come or go near, approach; to adjoin, be close by; to enter (someone’s) presence; to be or become involved; to reach (a certain state); to arrive; to befall, happen to; to become similar to, resemble; to be a match for (someone)”); see etymology 1.
10 senses
- 1An act of drawing near in place or time; an advancing or…
- 2An act of coming near in character or value; an approximation.
- 3An avenue, passage, or way by which a building or place…
- 4A path taken to reach the climbing area, for example…
- 5A manner of making (a policy) or solving (a problem, etc.).
- 6An opportunity of drawing near; access.
- 7The way an aircraft comes in to land at an airport.
- 8A specific procedure used for approaching and landing at…
- 9The area before the lane in which a bowler may stand or…
- 10Ellipsis of approach shot.
1
Also, Figuratively An 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:
- 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]:
4 more examples
- 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.
- 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
Also, Figuratively An 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:
- […] 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:
1 more example
- 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:
4
Climbing, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports Also, Figuratively A path taken to reach the climbing area, for example, from a car park, road, etc.
5
Figuratively A manner of making (a policy) or solving (a problem, etc.).
- 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:
- 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:
1 more example
- 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:
6
Archaic An opportunity of drawing near; access.
- 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:
- 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:
2 more examples
- 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:
7
Aeronautics, Aerospace, Aviation, Business, Engineering, Natural sciences, Physical sciences Also The 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:
8
Aeronautics, Aerospace, Aviation, Business, Engineering, Natural sciences, Physical sciences Also A specific procedure used for approaching and landing at an airport.
- We flew the RNAV/GPS A approach to runway 16.
- Derived terms
- approach anxiety, approach-forcing, approach play, approach shoe, approach wedge, closest point of approach, cold approach, counterapproach, final approach, missed approach, multiapproach, non-precision approach, purposive approach, seagull approach, shotgun approach, slam dunk approach, surveillance approach, Trager approach
- Hyponyms
- instrument approach, missed approach, nonprecision approach, precision approach, visual approach