- reach
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/reech/, v.t.1. to get to or get as far as in moving, going, traveling, etc.: The boat reached the shore.2. to come to or arrive at in some course of progress, action, etc.: Your letter never reached me.3. to succeed in touching or seizing with an outstretched hand, a pole, etc.: to reach a book on a high shelf.4. to stretch or hold out; extend: reaching out a hand in greeting.5. to stretch or extend so as to touch or meet: The bookcase reaches the ceiling.6. to establish communication with: I called but couldn't reach you.7. to amount to, as in the sum or total: The cost will reach millions.8. to penetrate to: distant stars the eye cannot reach.9. to succeed in striking or hitting, as with a weapon or missile: The artillery fire reached the shore.10. to succeed in making contact with, influencing, impressing, interesting, convincing, etc.: a program that reached a large teenage audience.v.i.11. to make a stretch, as with the hand or arm.12. to become outstretched, as the hand or arm.13. to make a movement or effort as if to touch or seize something: to reach for a weapon.14. to extend in operation or effect: power that reaches throughout the land.15. to stretch in space; extend in direction, length, distance, etc.: a coat reaching to the knee; a tower reaching to the skies.16. to extend or continue in time.17. to get or come to a specified place, person, condition, etc. (often fol. by to).18. to amount (often fol. by to): sums reaching to a considerable total.19. to penetrate: Fields of flowers extended as far as the eye could reach.20. to assert or agree without certainty or sufficient evidence; infer hastily: I'd be reaching if I said I had the answer to your question.21. Naut.a. to sail on a reach.b. to sail with the wind forward of the beam but so as not to require sailing close-hauled.n.22. an act or instance of reaching: to make a reach for a gun.23. the extent or distance of reaching: within reach of his voice.24. range of effective action, power, or capacity.25. a continuous stretch or extent of something: a reach of woodland.26. Also called pound. a level portion of a canal, between locks.27. Naut. a point of sailing in which the wind is within a few points of the beam, either forward of the beam (close reach), directly abeam (beam reach), or abaft the beam (broad reach).28. the pole connecting the rear axle of a wagon to the transverse bar or bolster over the front axle supporting the wagon bed.29. a straight portion of a river between two bends.[bef. 900; (v.) ME rechen, OE raecan (c. G reichen, D reiken); (n.) deriv. of the v.]Syn. 1. attain. 24. area, sphere, scope.
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Universalium. 2010.
