Definition of "approach" in English

verb

1. (intransitive) To come or go near, in place or time; to move toward; to advance nearer; to draw nigh.

   • She approached the door cautiously.
   • We were approached by a stranger asking for directions.
   • The deadline is fast approaching.

2. (intransitive, golf, tennis) To play an approach shot.

3. (ambitransitive, figuratively) Used 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.

4. (transitive, rarely intransitive) Of 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.

5. (transitive, also figuratively) To move toward (someone or something) in place, time, character, or value; to draw nearer to.

   • “Would counsel please approach the bench?” asked the judge.
   • He approached the age of manhood.

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

7. (transitive, mathematical analysis) Used 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. (transitive) To attempt to make (a policy) or solve (a problem).

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

10. (transitive, archaic, euphemistic) To have sexual intercourse with (someone).

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

noun

1. (also figuratively) An act of drawing near in place or time; an advancing or coming near.

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

3. (also figuratively) An avenue, passage, or way by which a building or place can be approached; an access.

4. (figuratively) A manner of making (a policy) or solving (a problem, etc.).

5. (archaic) An opportunity of drawing near; access.

6. (aviation, also attributively) The way an aircraft comes in to land at an airport.

7. (bowling) The area before the lane in which a bowler may stand or run up before bowling the ball.

8. (golf, tennis) Ellipsis of approach shot.