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Definition of approach noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

approach

noun
 
/əˈprəʊtʃ/
 
/əˈprəʊtʃ/
Idioms
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    to problem/task

  1. [countable] a way of dealing with somebody/something; a way of doing or thinking about something such as a problem or a task
    • She took the wrong approach in her dealings with them.
    • It was time to take a different approach.
    • an alternative/innovative approach
    • a traditional/similar approach
    • The approach they were using no longer seemed to work.
    • approach to something We need to adopt a new approach to the problem.
    • The therapy takes a holistic approach to health and well-being.
    • approach for something a variety of approaches for the treatment of depression
    • approach for doing something Will this be a successful approach for providing high-tech offices?
    Extra Examples
    • The school has decided to adopt a different approach to discipline.
    • I liked her approach to the problem
    • She favoured the direct approach.
    • We need to adopt a more pragmatic approach.
    • You need to change your basic approach.
    • He criticized the one-size-fits-all approach to learning.
    • I spent some time testing this approach.
    • Some teachers have a more formal approach to teaching.
    • The US army pioneered this approach.
    • The company is taking a proactive approach to easing the energy crisis.
    • This approach allows students to learn at their own pace.
    • The modern approach to grammar teaching should make it easier to learn.
    • We want you to explore and develop various approaches.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • conventional
    • orthodox
    • traditional
    verb + approach
    • have
    • adopt
    • apply
    approach + verb
    • allow something
    • enable something
    • offer something
    preposition
    • approach to
    See full entry
  2. movement nearer

  3. [singular] movement nearer to somebody/something in distance or time
    • She hadn't heard his approach and jumped as the door opened.
    • the approach of spring
    • They felt apprehensive about the approach of war.
    • The children fell silent at the approach of their teacher.
    Extra Examples
    • The swishing of the grass signalled the approach of a person.
    • He had failed to notice the approach of the two policemen.
    • They were watching the slow approach of the bus.
    • The air was growing cooler with the approach of evening.
    • With the approach of winter comes new worries.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • shallow
    • steep
    verb + approach
    • make
    • signal
    approach + noun
    • speed
    • route
    preposition
    • at the approach of
    • with the approach of
    • approach to
    See full entry
  4. offer/request

  5. [countable] the act of speaking to somebody about something, especially when making an offer or a request
    • The club has made an approach to a local company for sponsorship.
    • We've received an approach from the director of a rival company.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + approach
    • make
    • have
    • receive
    preposition
    • approach from
    • approach to
    See full entry
  6. approaches
    [plural] (old-fashioned) attempts to start a personal or sexual relationship with somebody
    • She resented his persistent approaches.
  7. path/road

  8. [countable] a path, road, etc. that leads to a place
    • All the approaches to the palace were guarded by troops.
    • a new approach road to the port
    • The approach to the village was very pretty.
    Topics Transport by car or lorryc1
  9. of aircraft

  10. [countable] the part of an aircraft’s flight immediately before landing
    • to begin the final approach to the runway
    • The aircraft had to make a steep approach to the landing strip.
    Topics Transport by airb2
  11. something similar

  12. [singular] a thing that is like something else that is mentioned
    • That's the nearest approach to an apology you'll get from him.
Idioms
the carrot and (the) stick (approach)
  1. if you use the carrot and stick approach, you persuade somebody to try harder by offering them a reward if they do, or a punishment if they do not
    • The emphasis is on the carrot of incentive rather than the stick of taxes.
    Extra Examples
    • to adopt the carrot-and-stick approach
    • He decided to use the carrot and stick approach.
See approach in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee approach in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
trait
noun
 
 
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