to get to or get as far as in moving, going, traveling, etc.:The boat reached the shore.
to come to or arrive at in some course of progress, action, etc.:Your letter never reached me.
to succeed in touching or seizing with an outstretched hand, a pole, etc.:to reach a book on a high shelf.
to stretch or hold out; extend:reaching out a hand in greeting.
to stretch or extend so as to touch or meet:The bookcase reaches the ceiling.
to establish communication with:I called but couldn't reach you.
to amount to, as in the sum or total:The cost will reach millions.
to penetrate to:distant stars the eye cannot reach.
to succeed in striking or hitting, as with a weapon or missile:The artillery fire reached the shore.
to succeed in making contact with, influencing, impressing, interesting, convincing, etc.:a program that reached a large teenage audience.
v.i.
to make a stretch, as with the hand or arm.
to become outstretched, as the hand or arm.
to make a movement or effort as if to touch or seize something:to reach for a weapon.
to extend in operation or effect:power that reaches throughout the land.
to stretch in space; extend in direction, length, distance, etc.:a coat reaching to the knee; a tower reaching to the skies.
to extend or continue in time.
to get or come to a specified place, person, condition, etc. (often fol. by to).
to amount (often fol. by to):sums reaching to a considerable total.
to penetrate:Fields of flowers extended as far as the eye could reach.
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.
Naval Terms[Naut.]
, Nautical, Naval Termsto sail on a reach.
, Nautical, Naval Termsto sail with the wind forward of the beam but so as not to require sailing close-hauled.
n.
an act or instance of reaching:to make a reach for a gun.
the extent or distance of reaching:within reach of his voice.
range of effective action, power, or capacity.
a continuous stretch or extent of something:a reach of woodland.
Civil EngineeringAlso called pound. a level portion of a canal, between locks.
Nautical, Naval Termsa 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.)
Transportthe pole connecting the rear axle of a wagon to the transverse bar or bolster over the front axle supporting the wagon bed.
a straight portion of a river between two bends.
bef. 900; (verb, verbal) Middle English rechen, Old English rǣcan (cognate with German reichen, Dutch reiken); (noun, nominal) derivative of the verb, verbal
reach′a•ble, adj. reach′a•bil′i•ty, n. reach′er, n.
1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged attain.
24.See corresponding entry in Unabridged area, sphere, scope.