approach: Meaning and Definition of

ap•proach

Pronunciation: (u-prōch'), [key]
— v.t.
  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.
—v.i.
  1. to come nearer; draw near: A storm is approaching.
  2. to come near in character, time, amount, etc.; approximate.
—n.
  1. the act of drawing near: the approach of a train.
  2. nearness or close approximation: a fair approach to accuracy.
  3. any means of access, as a road or ramp: the approaches to a city.
  4. the method used or steps taken in setting about a task, problem, etc.: His approach to any problem was to prepare an outline.
  5. 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.
  6. Sometimes,a presentation, offer, or proposal.
  7. works for protecting forces in an advance against a fortified position.
  8. Also calleda stroke made after teeing off, by which a player attempts to get the ball onto the putting green.
  9. He favors a four-step approach.
    1. the steps taken and the manner employed in delivering the ball:He favors a four-step approach.
    2. the area behind the foul line, from which the ball is delivered.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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