# approach

Pronunciation: say "uh-PROHCH" US /əˈpɹoʊt͡ʃ/, UK /əˈpɹəʊt͡ʃ/

## Noun

1. A way of going about something, such as framing a policy or tackling a problem.
   - Simple: A way of dealing with a problem or making a plan.
   - _The committee adopted a cautious approach to the new policy._
   - _Different approaches to the same problem can give very different results._
5. A coming closer, whether in distance or in time; an advance toward someone or something.
   - Simple: The act of coming nearer in space or time.
   - _The approach of the deadline made everyone nervous._
   - _Sentries watched for the approach of enemy ships._
6. The road, path, or passage by which one reaches a building or place, such as the trail leading to a climbing area.
   - Simple: A road or path that leads to a place.
   - _A long, tree-lined approach led up to the manor._
   - _Engineers widened the approaches to the new tunnel._
7. The path and procedure an aircraft follows as it comes in to land at an airport.
   - Simple: The way a plane comes down toward the runway to land.
   - _Air traffic control cleared the jet for its approach to runway 27._
   - _Two earlier approaches were waved off because of crosswinds._
9. Short for approach shot: a golf shot toward the green or a tennis shot letting the player move toward the net. — Ellipsis of approach shot.
   - Simple: Short for approach shot. It means a shot played to land the ball near the hole or target.
   - _His approach spun back toward the pin and drew applause._
   - _She stuck the approach close and tapped in for par._
11. A close likeness in character or value; something that approximates another.
   - Simple: A close match to something in quality or amount.
   - _The replica is the closest approach to the lost statue we have._
   - _Her imitation of the singer's voice was a remarkably close approach to the real thing._

## Verb

2. To come nearer to someone or something in distance or time, or to come close to a particular amount, level, or quality.
   - Simple: To come closer to something, or to get close to a certain time, amount, or level.
   - _Footsteps approached quietly from the hallway._
   - _Trains approach slowly when the tracks are icy._
3. To come to someone with an idea, question, or request.
   - Simple: To go to a person to ask or suggest something.
   - _He approached the committee with a detailed proposal._
   - _Employees may approach human resources with any complaint._
4. To set about tackling a problem or shaping a policy.
   - Simple: To start dealing with a problem or task in some way.
   - _The team approached the budget crisis with fresh thinking._
   - _Researchers approach each question by testing one idea at a time._
8. To come arbitrarily close to a value, such as a number or vector, as a limit, or to grow without bound when the target is infinity.
   - Simple: To get closer and closer to a value, as close as you like, or to keep growing without end toward infinity.
   - _As x approaches infinity, the expression converges to one._
   - _The values of 1/x approach zero as x grows larger and larger._
10. To play an approach shot: in golf, a shot meant to land the ball on the green or near the hole; in tennis, a shot the player follows in to the net.
   - Simple: To hit a golf shot meant to land the ball close to the green or hole.
   - _He chose to approach with a high, soft shot that stopped quickly on the green._
   - _Golfers who approach accurately give themselves shorter putts._
13. To move toward a fortified place by means of trenches, covered roads, or similar protective works.
   - Simple: To move toward a place slowly using trenches or covered paths for protection.
   - _Engineers helped the army approach the citadel by digging zigzag trenches across open ground._
   - _Besiegers approach a stronghold gradually, extending their works closer each night._

## Verb

12. Of a fixed object or row of objects, to be positioned so that it notionally appears to be moving toward a place. *(rare)*
   - Simple: To look as if moving toward a place, even though the thing itself does not actually move.
   - _At the end of the bay, the steep cliffs approach the water, leaving no room for a road._
   - _Past the last farm, the forest approaches the edge of the highway._
15. To have sexual intercourse with someone, used as an older, discreet term. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: An old, indirect way of saying to have sex with someone.

## Noun

14. An opportunity of drawing near to someone or something; a means of access. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: A chance to come near to someone or something.

## Other meanings

- (noun) The area in front of the lane where a bowler stands and takes their steps before releasing the ball.
- (verb) To bring something near to something else; to cause one object to draw near another.

## Origin

**Meanings 2–4, 8, 10, 12–13, 15** — Late Latin appropiāre, a verb built on Latin prope ("near"), gave Old French aprochier (modern French approcher), which Middle English borrowed as aprochen. Its deepest roots are Proto-Indo-European.
**Meanings 1, 5–7, 9, 11, 14** — From Middle English approche ('approach, arrival'), from the verb approchen, aprochen; it shares the origin given in etymology 1.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/approach (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).