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reach

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The definition of reach is stretching out an arm or hand in order to touch or grab something.

(verb)

An example of reach is when you stretch out your hand to try to grasp hands with your spouse.

Reach is defined as arriving at something, achieving something or giving help or understanding to someone else.

(verb)

An example of reach is when you arrive at your final destination.
An example of reach is when you get the job you always wanted.
An example of reach is when you help a fellow man in need.

Reach means to extend your hand or arm to touch something, or how far the influence of something has spread.

(noun)

An example of reach is how far you can extend your hands out to touch things.
An example of reach is when a policy you create influences many people.

See reach in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

to thrust out or extend (the hand, etc.)
to extend to, or touch, by thrusting out, throwing something, etc.
to obtain and hand over: reach me the salt
to go as far as; attain: to reach town by night
to carry as far as; penetrate to: the news reached him late
to add up to; come to: to reach thousands of dollars
to have influence on; affect; impress
to get in touch with, as by telephone

Origin: ME rechen < OE ræcan, akin to Ger reichen < IE *rēiĝ-, to stretch out, extend the hand, akin to base *reĝ-, straight, stretch, direct > right

intransitive verb

to thrust out the hand, foot, etc.
to stretch, or be extended, in amount, influence, space, time, etc.: power that reaches into other lands
to be added; amount (with to or into)
to carry; penetrate, as sight, sound, etc.
to try to obtain something; make an attempt
to try too hard to make a point, joke, etc.
Naut. to sail on a reach

noun

the act of stretching or thrusting out
the power of stretching, obtaining, etc.
the distance or extent covered in stretching, obtaining, influencing, etc.
a continuous, uninterrupted extent or stretch, esp. of water
☆ a pole joining the rear axle to the forward part of a wagon
Naut. a tack sailed with the wind coming more or less from abeam: it may be a , with the wind forward of the beam; a , with the wind abeam; or a , with the wind abaft the beam

Related Forms:

reacher noun

See reach in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb reached, reach·ing, reach·es

verb, transitive

To stretch out or put forth (a body part); extend: reached out an arm.
To touch or grasp by stretching out or extending: can't reach the shelf.
To arrive at; attain: reached a conclusion; reached their destination.
a. To succeed in getting in contact with or communicating with: They reached us by phone. Our newsletter reaches a specialized readership.
b. To succeed in having an effect on: No one seems able to reach her anymore.
a. To extend as far as: The property reaches the shore.
b. To project as far as: A distant cry reached our ears.
c. To travel as far as: a long fly ball that reached the stadium's wall.
To aggregate or amount to: Sales reached the millions.
Informal To grasp and hand over to another: Reach me the sugar.

verb, intransitive

To thrust out or extend something.
To try to grasp or touch something: reached for a book.
a. To have extension in space or time: a coat that reaches to the knee; a career that reached over several decades.
b. To be extensive in influence or effect.
To make an excessive effort, as in drawing a conclusion or making a joke; overreach.
Nautical To sail with the wind abeam.

noun

The act or an instance of stretching or thrusting out.
The extent or distance something can reach.
a. Range of understanding; comprehension: a subject beyond my reach.
b. Range or scope of influence or effect.
An expanse: a reach of prairie; the lower reaches of the food chain.
A pole connecting the rear axle of a vehicle with the front.
Nautical The tack of a sailing vessel with the wind abeam.
The stretch of water visible between bends in a river or channel.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English rechen

Origin: , from Old English rǣcan; see reig- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: