First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1access
noun ac·cess \ˈak-ˌses also ik-ˈses\
: a way of getting near, at, or to something or someone
: a way of being able to use or get something
: permission or the right to enter, get near, or make use of something or to have contact with someone
Full Definition of ACCESS
2
a : permission, liberty, or ability to enter, approach, or pass to and from a place or to approach or communicate with a person or thing b : freedom or ability to obtain or make use of something c : a way or means of access d : the act or an instance of accessing
3
: an increase by addition <a sudden access of wealth>
See access defined for English-language learners
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Origin of ACCESS
Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French acces, from Latin accessus approach, from accedere to approach — more at accede
Rhymes with ACCESS
abscess, address, aggress, assess, bench-press, caress, clothespress, coatdress, cold-press, compress, confess, cross-dress, CS, depress, de-stress, digress, distress, drill press, egress, excess, express, finesse, fluoresce, French press, full-dress, handpress, headdress, housedress, idlesse, impress, ingress, Meknes, much less, nightdress, noblesse, no less, obsess, oppress, outguess, possess, precess, prestress, princess, process, profess, progress, recess, redress, regress, re-press, repress, shirtdress, side-dress, SS, success, sundress, suppress, tendresse, top-dress, transgress, undress, unless, web press, winepress, word stress
2access
verb
: to be able to use, enter, or get near (something)
: to open or load (a computer file, an Internet site, etc.)
Full Definition of ACCESS
transitive verb
: to get at : gain access to <accessed the computer by phone>
See access defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of ACCESS
1962
ACCESSING Defined for Kids
1access
noun ac·cess \ˈak-ˌses\
Definition of ACCESS for Kids
1
: the right or ability to approach, enter, or use <Only a few have access to the secret information.>
2
: a way or means of approaching <access to the sea>
2access
verb
ac·cessedac·cess·ing
Definition of ACCESS for Kids
: to get at : get access to <“He's in the computer. We just can't access his records.” — Louis Sachar, Holes>
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