access
access Lexical Profile
access Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The means, right, or opportunity to approach, enter, use, or benefit from a place, resource, or person.
"Students have twenty-four-hour access to the university library during final exams."
A way, passage, or channel by which a place or building may be approached or entered.
"The only vehicular access to the remote mountain village is a narrow gravel road."
A sudden, violent outburst of emotion or an acute onset of an illness.
"In a sudden access of rage, he tore the letter into tiny pieces."
• verb
To obtain, examine, or retrieve data, files, or a resource (especially from a computer system or network).
"Employees can access their work email remotely using a secure virtual private network."
To approach, enter, or reach a physical place or area.
"Visitors can access the upper observation deck via the glass elevator."
Word Nuance & Usage
Often confused with 'excess', which means an amount beyond what is necessary or desirable. As a noun, 'access' is almost always followed by the preposition 'to', whereas the transitive verb takes a direct object without a preposition.
• Rhymes for access
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the 14th century from Old French 'acces', from Latin 'accessus' ('an approach or way of entrance'), the past participle of 'accedere' ('to approach or come near'), formed from 'ad-' ('to') and 'cedere' ('to go').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.