— approacher , n. — approachless , adj.
/euh prohch"/ , 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.
7. to come nearer; draw near: A storm is approaching.
8. to come near in character, time, amount, etc.; approximate.
n.
9. the act of drawing near: the approach of a train.
10. nearness or close approximation: a fair approach to accuracy.
11. any means of access, as a road or ramp: the approaches to a city.
12. the method used or steps taken in setting about a task, problem, etc.: His approach to any problem was to prepare an outline.
13. 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.
14. Sometimes, approaches . a presentation, offer, or proposal.
15. approaches , Mil. works for protecting forces in an advance against a fortified position.
16. Also called approach shot . Golf. a stroke made after teeing off, by which a player attempts to get the ball onto the putting green.
17. Bowling.
a. the steps taken and the manner employed in delivering the ball: He favors a four-step approach.
b. the area behind the foul line, from which the ball is delivered.
[ 1275-1325; (v.) ME a ( p ) prochen a ( p ) rocher adpropiare, v. deriv., with ad- AD-, of L propius nearer (comp. of prope near), r. L appropinquare; (n.) late ME approche, deriv. of the v. ]
Syn. 1. near, close with. 3. sound out.
Ant. 6. withdraw.