ADDRESS


Meaning of ADDRESS in English

I. əˈdres also aˈd- or ˈaˌd- verb

( -ed/-ing/-es )

Etymology: Middle English adressen, from Middle French adrescer, adresser, from a- (from Latin ad- ) + drescer, dresser to straighten, arrange — more at dress

transitive verb

1. obsolete

a. : to make straight : set in order : arrange

whose stately numbers are so well addressed — Richard Barnfield

b. : to make right : correct , redress

a parliament being called to address many things — John Milton

2.

a. : direct , aim : make straight (as a course)

the enemy of mankind … towards Eve addressed his way — John Milton

b. : to direct to go : send , dispatch

he was addressed first to the Earl — Gilbert Burnet

3. archaic

a. : to make ready : prepare

he did address himself to quit … this mountain land — Lord Byron

b.

(1) : to make ready or prepare (as with proper clothing)

(2) : clothe , dress

c. : to put on : don

I have addressed a frock of heavy mail — Robert Browning

4. : to direct the efforts or turn the attention of (oneself)

he addressed himself to the remains of his chicken and salad — C.D.Lewis

the speakers addressed themselves to a common question

: try to apply (oneself or one's powers)

address yourself to the task of behaving better — Aldous Huxley

5.

a. : to direct by way of communication : communicate directly

addressing his thanks to his host

they addressed to the governor a plea for clemency

b. : to direct the words of (oneself)

addressing himself to the principal, he defended the students' behavior

6.

a. : to speak, write, or otherwise communicate directly to

addressing the chairman, he began his speech

she addressed the older woman respectfully

b. : to deliver a prepared or formal speech to

he addresses the convention tonight

7.

a. : to write or otherwise mark directions for delivery on : direct

address a letter for mailing

address a package for delivery by messenger

b. : to consign or entrust to the care of another (as agent or factor)

the ship was addressed to a factor

8. : to greet directly using a prescribed form either in speech or in writing

many people are uncertain about how to address members of the nobility

9. : to direct one's attentions to (as in courtship) : court , woo

she is too fine and too conscious of herself to repulse any man who may address her — J.R.Lowell

10.

a. : to take one's stance and adjust the club preparatory to hitting (a golf ball)

b. : to stand ready to shoot (an arrow) with the body turned at right angles to the target

c. : to bow slightly to (one's square-dancing partner) in preparation for a dance

11. law : to unseat or remove (a judge) as unworthy of office by executive order in accordance with a formal petition from the legislature

12.

a. : to put information into (a memory or storage device)

b. : to call upon (such a device) for information

intransitive verb

1. obsolete : to prepare oneself : set about

let us address to tend on Hector's heels — Shakespeare

2. obsolete : to direct one's speech or attentions

my lord of Burgundy, we first address toward you — Shakespeare

Synonyms: see direct

II. əˈdres, in sense 7 usually & in other senses often ˈaˌd-; also aˈdres, sometimes ( esp in sense 7 ) ˈadrə̇s noun

( -es )

1. obsolete

a.

(1) : the act of preparing or making ready

(2) : the state of being prepared

b. : something that is prepared ; specifically : dress , attire

2. : the quality or state of being ready or skillful : dexterity , adroitness

to bring the thing off as well as Mike has done requires address — Herman Wouk

3. obsolete : the act or action of addressing oneself or one's words to a person

4.

a. : the manner in which one conducts or carries oneself : bearing , deportment

the education and social address of the propertied class — G.B.Shaw

b. : the manner or style of speaking or singing : delivery

a tenor who sang … with a remarkable freedom of voice and ease of address — Douglas Watt

5. : courteous or dutiful attention especially in courtship — usually used in plural

ladies … to whom all the polite part of the court … paid their addresses — Jonathan Swift

6. : a formal communication either spoken or written: as

a. : a usually formal speech or talk especially as prepared for delivery to a special group

his commencement address was subsequently published

b. : a formal petition especially by a legislative body to an executive or sovereign

c. : a formal statement of policy or opinion by a sovereign or president to the people or to a legislative body

an address by the president to Congress

7.

a. : the designation of a place (as a residence or place of business) where a person or organization may be found or communicated with : a part of such a designation

a street address

b. : the directions for delivery given on the outside of an object to be delivered (as a letter or package)

c. : the name of the addressee and designation of place of delivery between the heading and the salutation of a business letter — called also inside address

8. : the act of directing or dispatching a ship

the agent at the port being given a commission of address

9. : direction 11

10. : the stance of the player and the position of the club preparatory to hitting a golf ball

11. : a location (as in the memory of a computer) where particular information is stored ; also : the symbols (as digits or letters) that identify such a location

Synonyms: see tact

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.