/ əˈprəʊtʃ; NAmE əˈproʊtʃ/ verb , noun
■ verb
MOVE NEAR
1.
to come near to sb/sth in distance or time :
[ v ]
We heard the sound of an approaching car / a car approaching
Winter is approaching.
[ vn ]
As you approach the town, you'll see the college on the left.
OFFER / ASK
2.
[ vn ] approach sb (about / for sth) | approach sb (about doing sth) to speak to sb about sth, especially to ask them for sth or to offer to do sth :
She approached the bank for a loan.
We have been approached by a number of companies that are interested in our product.
I'd like to ask his opinion but I find him difficult to approach (= not easy to talk to in a friendly way) .
AMOUNT / QUALITY
3.
[ vn ] to come close to sth in amount, level or quality :
profits approaching 30 million dollars
Few writers approach his richness of language.
PROBLEM / TASK
4.
[ vn ] to start dealing with a problem, task, etc. in a particular way :
What's the best way of approaching this problem?
■ noun
TO PROBLEM / TASK
1.
[ C ] approach (to sth) a way of dealing with sb/sth; a way of doing or thinking about sth such as a problem or a task :
The school has decided to adopt a different approach to discipline.
She took the wrong approach in her dealings with them.
MOVEMENT NEARER
2.
[ sing. ] movement nearer to sb/sth in distance or time :
She hadn't heard his approach and jumped as the door opened.
the approach of spring
OFFER / REQUEST
3.
[ C ] the act of speaking to sb about sth, especially when making an offer or a request :
The club has made an approach to a local company for sponsorship.
She resented his persistent approaches.
PATH / ROAD
4.
[ C ] a path, road, etc. that leads to a place :
All the approaches to the palace were guarded by troops.
a new approach road to the port
OF AIRCRAFT
5.
[ C ] the part of an aircraft's flight immediately before landing :
to begin the final approach to the runway
STH SIMILAR
6.
[ sing. ] a thing that is like sth else that is mentioned :
That's the nearest approach to an apology you'll get from him.
•
IDIOMS
see carrot
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French aprochier , aprocher , from ecclesiastical Latin appropiare draw near, from ad- to + propius (comparative of prope near).