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In the video game Minecraft, a portal built from which material gives players access to the Nether?

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access

American  

[ak-ses] / ˈæk sɛs /

noun

• accesses
  plural

1. 

   the ability, right, or permission to approach, enter, speak with, or use; admittance.

   They have access to the files.

2. a way or means of approach.

   The only access to the house was a rough dirt road.

3. the state or quality of being approachable.

   Located deep in the woods on an island with no dock, the cabin was difficult of access.

4. Theology. approach to God through Jesus Christ.

5. an attack or onset, as of a disease or symptom.

   Some influenza patients experience attacks for many weeks after the primary access.

   In a violent access of coughing I fractured one of my ribs.

6. a sudden, strong burst of emotion.

   In an access of clumsy tenderness, he tried to dry the tears that trembled on her eyelashes.

7. accession.

8. public-access television.

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verb (used with object)

• accesses,
  present (3rd person singular)
• accessed,
  past participle,  past
• accessing
  present participle

1. to make contact with or gain access to; be able to reach, approach, enter, etc..

   Bank customers can access their checking accounts instantly through the online portal.

2. Computers. (of a program or system component) to retrieve (data) for use by another program or application or for transfer from one part of the system to another.

   This key enables other applications to access data from within the event management system even if you aren't logged in.

adjective

1. Television. (of programming, time, etc.) available to the public.

   Six channels now offer access services.

access British  

/ ˈæksɛs /

noun

1. the act of approaching or entering

2. the condition of allowing entry, esp (of a building or room) allowing entry by wheelchairs, prams, etc

3. the right or privilege to approach, reach, enter, or make use of something

4. a way or means of approach or entry

5. the opportunity or right to see or approach someone

   she fights for divorce and free access to her children

6. (modifier) designating programmes made by the general public as distinguished from those made by professional broadcasters

   access television

7. a sudden outburst or attack, as of rage or disease

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verb

1. to gain access to; make accessible or available

2. (tr) computing

   1. to obtain or retrieve (information) from a storage device

   2. to place (information) in a storage device See also direct access sequential access

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preaccess
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• accesses
  plural

Participles

• accessing
  present
• accessed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• access
  simple
• accesses
  simple
• have accessed
  perfect
• has accessed
  perfect
• am accessing
  progressive
• are accessing
  progressive
• is accessing
  progressive
• have been accessing
  perfect progressive
• has been accessing
  perfect progressive

Past

• accessed
  simple
• had accessed
  perfect
• was accessing
  progressive
• were accessing
  progressive
• had been accessing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will access
  simple
• will have accessed
  perfect
• will be accessing
  progressive
• will have been accessing
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of access

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English accesse, from Old French acces or directly from Latin accessus “an approach,” equivalent to acced-, variant stem of accēdere “to accede ” + -tus suffix of verb action

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Explanation

Most libraries provide computers you can use to access the Internet. If chemicals are being stolen from a lab, you might ask who has access to the lab. Access is approaching or making use of something, or the ability to do so Sometimes the word is applied to a person. If you work in the same room as your boss, you might have easy access to her. A really good boss will work hard to make herself accessible to her employees. Access is from Middle English, from Middle French acces "arrival," from Latin accessus "an approach," from accedere "to approach."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

access accesses accessed accessing

Engine-makers continually vie for access to the technology.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

Partners also have access to profits from the firm’s private investment funds.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026

Lowenthal said earlier this year he was inspired to seek more safeguards for social media users, citing the anxiety and depression among children who grew up with access to cellphones, tablets and computer screens.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026

The company expects to provide early access to Digit 5 in the first half of 2027 and ramp up availability by the end of that year.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 5, 2026

At the same time Kat was laying out her plan to use François Fournier’s ID to access the server room, Mother was across town in Montmartre visiting the Sinclair Collection.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

In reality, as Slater notes, the demographics of who accesses psychotherapy show that the issue is often a matter of access, not will.

From Salon ● May 18, 2026

Doing so accesses the car’s maximum torque of over 1,000 Newton-meters—793 lb-ft.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 4, 2026

Some of my favorite gags just sparked to life for an instant, like an all-knowing supercomputer who is a bit put out that Elio accesses its wisdom simply to learn how to fight.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2025

"Trimingham beach is a really remote location and there aren't any nearby beach accesses so they were put there to move things around like concrete, steel sheet piles and timber."

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2024

It is fair, however, to say that these accesses of morality or moralising are not very frequent.

From A History of the French Novel, Vol. 2 To the Close of the 19th Century by George Saintsbury

Material posted on many online platforms and social media sites could still be accessed without an account, Reddit said.

From Barron's ● Nov. 3, 2026

However, researchers from UK Cyber Defence have identified more than 800 refrigeration and building-control interfaces associated with British retailers that can be accessed over the public internet.

From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026

Critics point to the cost of Palantir, concerns about how patient data is accessed, and its work with the U.S. military and immigration enforcement.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026

The CFAA, for instance, has a provision for “reckless damage”—but it still requires a human to have intentionally accessed a computer without permission in the first place.

From Slate ● Oct. 25, 2026

“I know. I accessed their report on him. Creepy kid. When I said us I meant the non-psychotic Oranges.”

From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken

Mduduzi Makhubo, 45, has lived in Soweto his entire life and he told the BBC of the community's daily struggles with accessing water and electricity.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

It carries shopping traffic, people traveling to and from work, locals accessing schools and other travelers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

"Social media is an important means of accessing news and engaging in political communication for young Australians, including children under 16," the advocacy group argued in written submissions.

From Barron's ● Nov. 3, 2026

Amid these challenges and others that people working in public service have faced over the years in accessing promised student-debt forgiveness, Dismore says borrowers should know that they’re entitled to certain rights under the law.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2026

I run a finger across my monitor, take a sip of water, and then enter my clearance code for accessing the Internet.

From "Legend" by Marie Lu

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Related Words

• approach
• connection
• entry

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