Reach - Definition

n 1: the limits within which something can be effective; "range
of motion"; "he was beyond the reach of their fire" [syn:
range, reach]
2: an area in which something acts or operates or has power or
control: "the range of a supersonic jet"; "a piano has a
greater range than the human voice"; "the ambit of municipal
legislation"; "within the compass of this article"; "within
the scope of an investigation"; "outside the reach of the
law"; "in the political orbit of a world power" [syn:
scope, range, reach, orbit, compass, ambit]
3: the act of physically reaching or thrusting out [syn:
reach, reaching, stretch]
4: the limit of capability; "within the compass of education"
[syn: compass, range, reach, grasp]
v 1: reach a destination, either real or abstract; "We hit
Detroit by noon"; "The water reached the doorstep"; "We
barely made it to the finish line"; "I have to hit the MAC
machine before the weekend starts" [syn: reach, make,
attain, hit, arrive at, gain]
2: reach a point in time, or a certain state or level; "The
thermometer hit 100 degrees"; "This car can reach a speed of
140 miles per hour" [syn: reach, hit, attain]
3: move forward or upward in order to touch; also in a
metaphorical sense; "Government reaches out to the people"
[syn: reach, reach out]
4: be in or establish communication with; "Our advertisements
reach millions"; "He never contacted his children after he
emigrated to Australia" [syn: reach, get through, get
hold of, contact]
5: to gain with effort; "she achieved her goal despite setbacks"
[syn: achieve, accomplish, attain, reach]
6: to extend as far as; "The sunlight reached the wall"; "Can he
reach?" "The chair must not touch the wall" [syn: reach,
extend to, touch]
7: reach a goal, e.g., "make the first team"; "We made it!";
"She may not make the grade" [syn: reach, make, get to,
progress to]
8: place into the hands or custody of; "hand me the spoon,
please"; "Turn the files over to me, please"; "He turned over
the prisoner to his lawyers" [syn: pass, hand, reach,
pass on, turn over, give]
9: to exert much effort or energy; "straining our ears to hear"
[syn: strive, reach, strain]