Word: reach Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English rechen, from Old English rǣċan (“to reach”), from Proto-West Germanic *raikijan, from Proto-Germanic *raikijaną, from the Proto-Indo-European *Hreyǵ- (“to bind, reach”). Cognate with Dutch reiken, German reichen. Pronunciation: /ɹiːt͡ʃ/ 1. To extend, stretch, or thrust out (for example a limb or object held in the hand). Labels: intransitive Example: He reached for a weapon that was on the table. Example: He reached for his shoe with his legs. 2. To give to someone by stretching out a limb, especially the hand; to give with the hand; to pass to another person; to hand over. Labels: transitive Example: to reach someone a book Example: When Svend Fælling had promised to do so, saying that he thought himself strong and active enough for the encounter, the Troll reached him a heavy iron bar, and bade him show his strength on that. 3. To stretch out the hand. Labels: intransitive 4. To attain or obtain by stretching forth the hand; to extend some part of the body, or something held, so as to touch, strike, grasp, etc. Labels: transitive Example: to reach an object with the hand, or with a spear Example: “I can't quite reach the pepper. Could you pass it to me?” 5. To strike or touch. Labels: transitive Example: His bullet reached its intended target. 6. To extend an action, effort, or influence to; to penetrate to; to pierce, or cut. Labels: broadly, transitive Example: A few words, lovingly, encouragingly spoken failed to reach her heart. Example: Judge Short had gone to town, and Farrar was off for a three days' cruise up the lake. I was bitterly regretting I had not gone with him when the distant notes of a coach horn reached my ear, and I descried a four-in-hand winding its way up the inn road from the direction of Mohair. 7. To extend to; to stretch out as far as; to touch by virtue of extent. Labels: transitive Example: his hand reaches the river Example: When the forest reaches the river, you will be able to rest. 8. To arrive at (a place) by effort of any kind. Labels: transitive Example: After three years, he reached the position of manager. Example: The climbers reached the top of the mountain after a gruelling ten-day hike. 9. To make contact with. Labels: figuratively, transitive Example: I tried to reach you all day. 10. To connect with (someone) on an emotional level, making them receptive of (one); to get through to (someone). Labels: figuratively, transitive Example: What will it take for me to reach him? Example: Whether by design or driven by the force of circumstances, they have always directed their main effort toward gaining the support of this "elite," while the more conservative groups have acted, as regularly but unsuccessfully, on a more naive view of mass democracy and have usually vainly tried directly to reach and to persuade the individual voter. 11. To arrive at a particular destination. Labels: India, Singapore, intransitive Example: The particulars that reach from Eastern Bengal require corroboration. Example: I reached at the right time. 12. To continue living until or up to (a certain age). Labels: transitive Example: You can only access the inheritance money when you reach the age of 25. 13. To understand; to comprehend. Labels: obsolete Example: Do what, sir? I reach you not. 14. To strain after something; to make (sometimes futile or pretentious) efforts. Example: Reach for your dreams. Example: Reach for the stars! 15. To extend in dimension, time etc.; to stretch out continuously (past, beyond, above, from etc. something). Labels: intransitive Example: The Thembu tribe reaches back for twenty generations to King Zwide. 16. To sail on the wind, as from one point of tacking to another, or with the wind nearly abeam. 17. To arrive at a particular destination, especially to join someone; to meet up. Labels: Multicultural-London-English, slang Example: What time you reaching tomorrow? Example: If you're calling out at your homies to come over and hang out, you just simply say "reach."