n. 1. A means of approaching, entering, exiting, communicating with, or making use of: a store with easy access. 2. The ability or right to approach, enter, exit, communicate with, or make use of: has access to the restricted area; has access to classified material. 3. Public access. 4. An increase by addition. 5. An outburst or onset: an access of rage. tr.v. ac·cessed, ac·cess·ing, ac·cess·es To obtain access to, especially by computer: used a browser to access a website; accessed her bank account online. [Middle English acces, a coming to, from Old French, from Latin accessus, past participle of accēdere, to arrive : ad-, ad- + cēdere, to come; see ked- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.