approach

ap|proach1 [ ə`proutʃ ] verb ***

1. ) intransitive or transitive to move closer to someone or something:

She heard footsteps approaching from behind.

A strange boat was approaching the shore.

a ) intransitive if an event or a particular time approaches, it will happen soon:

The day of the election approached.

Winter is fast approaching.

2. ) transitive to speak to someone about something for the first time, especially in order to ask for help or make an offer:

Have you thought about approaching Sally? She might be able to help.

approach someone about something: I have already approached my boss about a raise.

3. ) transitive to almost reach a particular level, number, or condition:

There is no one who even approaches his talents.

They played in temperatures approaching 100 degrees.

4. ) transitive to deal with a situation or problem in a particular way:

Governments tend to approach the issue from different angles.

approach

ap|proach 2 [ ə`proutʃ ] noun ***

1. ) count a particular way of thinking about or dealing with something:

We need a fresh approach to sports in education.

approach to: He has a relaxed approach to life.

adopt/take/use an approach: As a writer she takes a completely new approach to the classic horror story.

2. ) singular the fact of coming closer in time or in distance:

With the approach of war, many children were evacuated.

We watched the carriage's slow and steady approach.

3. ) count the path that a plane follows when it is preparing to land:

approach to/into: The plane crashed during its final approach to the airport.

a ) a path or road that leads to a place:

approach to: Soldiers were guarding all approaches to the palace.

4. ) count the action of starting to speak or write to someone when you are asking for something or making an offer:

make an approach to someone: The company has made some approaches to the Department of Commerce.