Access Definition

Contents

• 1 English
  • 1.1 Etymology
  • 1.2 Pronunciation
  • 1.3 Noun
    • 1.3.1 Derived terms
    • 1.3.2 Related terms
    • 1.3.3 Translations
  • 1.4 Verb
    • 1.4.1 Translations
  • 1.5 References

English

Etymology

From French accès or from Latin accessus, perfect passive participle of accēdō (“approach; accede”) < ad (“to, toward, at”) + cēdō (“move, yield”).

Pronunciation

• enPR: ăkʹsĕs, IPA: /ˈæk.sɛs/, SAMPA: /"{ksEs/

• Audio (US)
  (file)

• Hyphenation: ac‧cess

Noun

access (countable and uncountable; plural accesses)

1. (uncountable) A way or means of approaching or entering; an entrance; a passage.
   • All access was thronged. - Milton
2. (uncountable) The act of approaching or entering; an advance.
3. (uncountable) The right or ability of approaching or entering; admittance; admission; accessibility.
   • I did repel his fetters, and denied His access to me. - Shakespeare, Hamlet, II-i
4. (uncountable) Admission to sexual intercourse.
   • During coverture, access of the husband shall be presumed, unless the contrary be shown. - Blackstone
5. (countable) An increase by addition; accession; as, an access of territory.
   • I, from the influence of thy looks, receive access in every virtue. - Milton
6. (countable) An onset, attack, or fit of disease; an ague fit.
   • The first access looked like an apoplexy. - Burnet
7. (countable) An outburst of an emotion; a paroxysm; a fit of passion; as, an access of fury.
   • 1946: Arnold J. Toynbee, A Study of History (Abridgement of Volumes I-VI by D.C. Somervell)

     It appears that, about the middle of the fourth century of the Christian Era, the Germans in the Roman service started the new practice of retaining their native names; and this change of etiquette, which seems to have been abrupt, points to a sudden access of self-confidence and self-assurance in the souls of the barbarian personnel which had previously been content to 'go Roman' without reservations.

8. (uncountable) (law) The right of a non-custodial parent to visit their child.
9. (uncountable) (computing) The process of locating data in memory.
10. (uncountable) (Internet) Connection to or communication with a computer program or to the Internet.

Derived terms

• direct access
• random access
• remote access

Related terms

• accede
• accessary
• accessible
• accessibility
• accessibly
• accession
• accessory

Verb

to access (third-person singular simple present accesses, present participle accessing, simple past and past participle accessed)

1. (transitive) To gain or obtain access to.
2. (transitive) (computing) To have access to (data).

Translations

References

• access in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• access in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• access at OneLook Dictionary Search

Related 'Access' Searches: