Word: approach Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English approche (“approach, arrival”), from approchen, aprochen (“to come or go near, approach; to adjoin, be close by; to enter (someone’s) presence; to be or become involved; to reach (a certain state); to arrive; to befall, happen to; to become similar to, resemble; to be a match for (someone)”); see etymology 1. Pronunciation: /əˈpɹəʊt͡ʃ/, /əˈpɹoʊt͡ʃ/ 1. An act of drawing near in place or time; an advancing or coming near. Labels: also, figuratively Example: Ah, what a ſigne it is of euill life, Where death's approach is ſeene ſo terrible. Example: Nauar had notice of your faire approch. And he and his compettitours in oth, Were all addreſt to meete you gentle Lady Before I came: […] 2. An act of coming near in character or value; an approximation. Example: The canine, judging from the figures published by M. [Édouard] Lartet, seems to be less developed than in the male chimpanzees, gorillas and orang. In which character the fossil, if it belonged to a male, makes a nearer approach to the human type; but it is one which many of the inferior monkeys also exhibit, and is by no means to be trusted as significant of true affinity, supposing even the sex of the fossil to be known as being male. 3. An avenue, passage, or way by which a building or place can be approached; an access. Labels: also, figuratively Example: Where are my lines then? my approaches? views? Where are my window-ſongs? Example: […] he ſaw As of the ſun or moon illuming clear The palace of Phæacia's mighty King. […] Maſtiffs, in gold and ſilver, lined the approach On either ſide, by art celeſtial framed Of Vulcan, guardian of Alcinoüs gate For ever, unobnoxious to decay. 4. An avenue, passage, or way by which a building or place can be approached; an access. Labels: also, figuratively 5. A manner of making (a policy) or solving (a problem, etc.). Labels: figuratively Example: Our proposed definitional approach to the data processing-communications dilemma evoked considerable discussion. There is uniform disagreement and confusion as to the regulatory implications of the proposed definitional terms. Example: Its [the United States Environmental Protection Agency's] initial approach to controlling the amount of lead in the ambient air was to limit lead emissions from automobiles by restricting the amount of lead in gasoline. 6. An opportunity of drawing near; access. Labels: archaic Example: Honour hath three Things in it: The Vantage Ground to doe Good: The approach to Kings and principall Persons: And the Raiſing of a Mans owne Fortunes. Example: The Learned met with free Approach, Although they came not in a Coach. 7. The way an aircraft comes in to land at an airport. Labels: also, attributive Example: Most small airplanes maintain a speed well in excess of 1.3 times V_(SO) on an instrument approach. An airplane with a stall speed of 50 knots (V_(SO)) has a normal approach speed of 65 knots. 8. The way an aircraft comes in to land at an airport. Labels: also, attributive Example: We flew the RNAV/GPS A approach to runway 16. 9. The area before the lane in which a bowler may stand or run up before bowling the ball. 10. Ellipsis of approach shot. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis