approaches Definition

approach
verb approaches, approached, approaching

tr & intr
1. To come near or nearer in space, time, quality, character, state, etc.

Example: It's approaching one o'clock
Example: Few can approach her beautiful singing voice
Thesaurus: come near, drift toward, go toward, move toward, come up to, loom up, verge upon, close in; be imminent, be forthcoming, loom, await, impend, draw near; Antonym: leave, recede, depart.
2. To begin to deal with, think about, etc (a problem, subject, etc).

Example: They approached the project from an entirely new angle
3. To contact someone, especially when wanting to suggest, propose, sell, etc something, especially something illegal or underhand.

Example: was approached by a drug dealer
Thesaurus: appeal to, apply to, address, speak to, talk to, accost, request, propose, make advances to, make overtures to, buttonhole, corner, descend on, descend upon; Antonym: avoid, shun, turn away.

noun

1. The act of coming near.
2. A way to, or means of reaching, a place.
3. A request for help, support, etc; a suggestion or proposal.
4. A way of considering or dealing with a problem, etc.

Example: a new approach
5. The course that an aircraft follows as it comes in to land.
6. golf.
The shot that is played onto the putting green.

Idiom: make approaches to someone

To suggest something underhand to them or to try to influence them to do something underhand.

Etymology: 14c: from Latin appropiare to draw near.