access

[ ak-ses ]

/ ˈæk sɛs /

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See synonyms for: access / accessed / accessing on Thesaurus.com

noun

the ability, right, or permission to approach, enter, speak with, or use; admittance: They have access to the files.

the state or quality of being approachable: The house was difficult of access.

a way or means of approach: The only access to the house was a rough dirt road.

Theology. approach to God through Jesus Christ.

an attack or onset, as of a disease.

a sudden and strong emotional outburst.

accession.

public-access television.

verb (used with object)

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 new electronic system.

Computers. to locate (data) for transfer from one part of a computer system to another, generally between an external storage device and main storage.

adjective

Television. (of programming, time, etc.) available to the public: Six channels now offer access services.

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Origin of access

1275–1325; Middle English accesse (<Old French acces) <Latin accessus an approach, equivalent to acced-, variant stem of accēdere to accede + -tus suffix of v. action

OTHER WORDS FROM access

pre·ac·cess, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH access

access , assess, excess

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for access

"That's the worst of it," said the girl, with one of her sudden accesses of sweet candor.
The Clarion|Samuel Hopkins Adams
To all appearances equally removed from effeminateness and brutality, he was subject, nevertheless, to accesses of both.
Atlantis|Gerhart Hauptmann
“I wish you would,” said John, putting his hand to his brow in one of his accesses of giddiness.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 10 (of 25)|Robert Louis Stevenson
Lambert had taken care of that by posting regiments in an outer ring round Morley's and Mosse's, so as to block all accesses.
The Life of John Milton, Volume 5 (of 7), 1654-1660|David Masson

When thwarted he was liable to these accesses to rage, and, speaking figuratively, they spoilt his character.
Jess|H. Rider Haggard

British Dictionary definitions for access

access

/ (ˈæksɛs) /

noun

the act of approaching or entering

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

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

a way or means of approach or entry

the opportunity or right to see or approach someoneshe fights for divorce and free access to her children

(modifier) designating programmes made by the general public as distinguished from those made by professional broadcastersaccess television

a sudden outburst or attack, as of rage or disease

verb

to gain access to; make accessible or available

(tr) computing

to obtain or retrieve (information) from a storage device
to place (information) in a storage deviceSee also direct access, sequential access

Word Origin for access

C14: from Old French or from Latin accessus an approach, from accēdere to accede

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for access

access

[ ăk′sĕs ]

n.

A means of approaching, entering, exiting, or making use of; passage.

The space required to view a tooth and manipulate dental instruments to remove decay and prepare the tooth for restoration.

The opening in the crown of a tooth necessary to allow adequate admittance to the pulp space to clean, shape, and seal the root canal.

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