- Reach
- Reach Reach, n.
1. The act of stretching or extending; extension; power of
reaching or touching with the person, or a limb, or
something held or thrown; as, the fruit is beyond my
reach; to be within reach of cannon shot.
[1913 Webster]
2. The power of stretching out or extending action, influence, or the like; power of attainment or management; extent of force or capacity. [1913 Webster]
Drawn by others who had deeper reaches than themselves to matters which they least intended. --Hayward. [1913 Webster]
Be sure yourself and your own reach to know. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
3. Extent; stretch; expanse; hence, application; influence; result; scope. [1913 Webster]
And on the left hand, hell, With long reach, interposed. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
I am to pray you not to strain my speech To grosser issues, nor to larger reach Than to suspicion. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
4. An extended portion of land or water; a stretch; a straight portion of a stream or river, as from one turn to another; a level stretch, as between locks in a canal; an arm of the sea extending up into the land. ``The river's wooded reach.'' --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]
The coast . . . is very full of creeks and reaches. --Holland. [1913 Webster]
5. An artifice to obtain an advantage. [1913 Webster]
The Duke of Parma had particular reaches and ends of his own underhand to cross the design. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
6. The pole or rod which connects the hind axle with the forward bolster of a wagon. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.