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.

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

the state or quality of being approachable: Located deep in the woods on an island with no dock, the cabin was difficult of access.

Theology. approach to God through Jesus Christ.

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.

a sudden, strong burst of emotion: In an access of clumsy tenderness, he tried to dry the tears that trembled on her eyelashes.

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 online portal.

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

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

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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

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. 2022

How to use access in a sentence

"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 ]

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.

access

Origin of access

OTHER WORDS FROM access

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH access

Words related to access

How to use access in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for access

Word Origin for access

Medical definitions for access