/ Dictionary / Index R reach: Meaning and Definition of Find definitions for: reach Pronunciation: (rēch), [key] — v.t. to get to or get as far as in moving, going, traveling, etc.: The boat reached the shore. to come to or arrive at in some course of progress, action, etc.: Your letter never reached me. to succeed in touching or seizing with an outstretched hand, a pole, etc.: to reach a book on a high shelf. to stretch or hold out; extend: reaching out a hand in greeting. to stretch or extend so as to touch or meet: The bookcase reaches the ceiling. to establish communication with: I called but couldn't reach you. to amount to, as in the sum or total: The cost will reach millions. to penetrate to: distant stars the eye cannot reach. to succeed in striking or hitting, as with a weapon or missile: The artillery fire reached the shore. to succeed in making contact with, influencing, impressing, interesting, convincing, etc.: a program that reached a large teenage audience. —v.i. to make a stretch, as with the hand or arm. to become outstretched, as the hand or arm. to make a movement or effort as if to touch or seize something: to reach for a weapon. to extend in operation or effect: power that reaches throughout the land. to stretch in space; extend in direction, length, distance, etc.: a coat reaching to the knee; a tower reaching to the skies. to extend or continue in time. to get or come to a specified place, person, condition, etc. (often fol. by to). to amount (often fol. by to): sums reaching to a considerable total. to penetrate: Fields of flowers extended as far as the eye could reach. to assert or agree without certainty or sufficient evidence; infer hastily: I'd be reaching if I said I had the answer to your question. to sail on a reach. to sail with the wind forward of the beam but so as not to require sailing close-hauled. —n. an act or instance of reaching: to make a reach for a gun. the extent or distance of reaching: within reach of his voice. range of effective action, power, or capacity. a continuous stretch or extent of something: a reach of woodland. Also calleda level portion of a canal, between locks. a point of sailing in which the wind is within a few points of the beam, either forward of the beamdirectly abeamor abaft the beam the pole connecting the rear axle of a wagon to the transverse bar or bolster over the front axle supporting the wagon bed. a straight portion of a river between two bends. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. See also: reach (Thesaurus) reabsorption reaching jib Related Content Daily Word Quiz: placid Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy Spelling Bee: Today’s Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language