1Come near or nearer to (someone or something) in distance or time.

火车驶近了主线。

她没听见他走近。

1. 1.1 Come near or nearer to (a future time or event)
   接近，临近（未来时刻，未来事件）
   he was approaching retirement

   他快退休了。

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Now approaching 36, his career may be nearing its end, though hopefully not before he plays his part in the Caribbean in 2007.
   • Despite being at an age when many would opt for retirement - he was approaching 60 - Miquel was determined to find another business.
   • With the front end of the baby boomers approaching 60, many homeowners should be near to paying off their mortgage.
   • Nevertheless, when the trial approached its close, the jury were invited by the prosecution to disbelieve these witnesses.
   • This first team stalwart is an example of this having started out with the club as a Colt and still playing at first team level as he approaches his 40th birthday.
   • Better results are expected in the near future as Bulgaria approaches EU integration, completes the privatisation process and sees its economy flourish.
   • The combination left him with a third second place - and no doubt a desire for revenge as he approached the 2001 event.
   • These aircraft were approaching the end of their useful lives, and new airframes were required to continue the squadron's work for the next 10 years.
   • As the Boeing 707 tanker approaches the end of its useful life, the world's air forces are closely monitoring tests such as this one.
   • As the race approaches its close, we take a look the progress we've made thus far in the 2004 Democratic primaries.
   • She's trailing in the polls approaching Election Day and the municipal tax base doesn't have the funds to cover the rising costs at local school boards.
   • The construction of the city's first train museum is approaching completion.
   • One approaches the future neither arrogantly nor helplessly.
   • As it unfolded with its dramatic successes, we approached the end of our time together as a seminar.
2. 1.2no object (of a future time) come nearer.
   （未来时刻）临近
   the time is approaching when you will be destroyed

   你的死期快到了。

   Example sentencesExamples

   • And as the 2004 election approaches, commentators see a continuation, if not an intensification, of the culture war.
   • What with the wedding approaching, this is no time for a communication breakdown.
   • As evening approached, we relaxed in the shade near a water hole.
   • As the big day approached, I started experiencing overuse injuries after my 20-plus-mile walks.
   • A period of great political change in this part of Europe was approaching and events began to move quickly in 1866.
   • As the election approached, political pollsters of all parties started to identify a profound lack of interest in politics and party policies.
   • As the end of November approached, I started getting questions about Thanksgiving.
   • The time for the concert to start approached and he asked Rebecca if she had intended to sit back stage or out front.
   • This means that if stock or bond markets fall into a prolonged downturn as your retirement approaches, you risk being left with a much smaller pension pot than might otherwise have been the case.
   • With election day approaching, Congress is certainly under pressure to do something.
   • As time approached for the party to start, some of his friends had arrived and new people for the train fest were showing up.
   • As the allotted start time approached even the birds were silent in deference to the events that were about to unfold.
   • The men used to say that Belle knew when dinner time approached because she started pricking her ears forward so she did not miss hearing the call.
   • As the end of the Christmas season was approaching in 1997, Kathy's inter-rail ticket was also nearing its terms of completion.
   • As the full moon approaches, events take an even more sinister turn.
   • But she is expecting some sleepless nights as the blue riband event approaches.
   • This great event is rapidly approaching and the Fort Knox team is in its final planning stages of this annual gathering.
   • Who could worry about literature when the biggest social event of the year was approaching?
   • But as Election Day approaches, that is exactly what is happening.
   • With midterm congressional elections approaching rapidly, both parties have said that passage of drug coverage will be critical to their success.
3. 1.3 Come close to (a number, level, or standard) in quality or quantity.
   数量（或质量）上接近（某一数字，某种水平，某个标准）
   the population will approach 12 million by the end of the decade

   十年后人口将接近1，200万。

   Example sentencesExamples

   • The strength of the evidence for selenium and prostate cancer approaches the highest level, but even so, questions remain about the wisdom of making recommendations.
   • The Mitta Mitta rose to the occasion with a river level of 1.7m, approaching the 2m cut-off mark when nobody is permitted to kayak or raft the river.
   • The resultant plot does seem to show that the population is now approaching an asymptote (and has done so twice before).
   • Last April I wrote a column that suggested it was unwise to try to load the .45 Colt to levels approaching the .44 Magnum.
   • Today I read the article about the world population approaching six billion.
   • Sales and gross margins at the Hopkinton (Mass.) company are approaching their boom-time levels.
   • The characterization of round pins as a late feature approaches a marginal level of significance.
   • It also will be impossible for the two teams to approach the Bucs' level of effectiveness.
   • No other country in the world approaches that level of spending as a fraction of national income, no matter how its medical care is organized.
   • Their worldwide record sales are approaching the 100 million marker very fast.
   • Thus, the number of proteins is approaching a meaningful level to cover a diverse set of potential therapeutic and toxicity targets.
   • This will result in a total immune population of 92%, which is approaching the level needed to prevent epidemics.
   • In fact, in the third quarter, margins appear to have approached levels not seen since the peak of the earnings boom in 1997.
   • As the voltage approaches the higher level, sulfur atoms at one end of the molecule loosen their chemical bonds with the wire, and the current drops off as the switchover occurs.
   • Second generation bean leaf beetles are emerging now and beetles numbers will be approaching their highest levels for the summer.
   • The ascent should then begin at whichever of two conditions arises first: the planned bottom time is reached, or cylinder pressure approaches the critical level.
   • In Pisces, collective thinking approaches the most mystical level possible.
   • In May of 2nd grade, her total standardized test results approached the 90th percentile!
   • Three other marker pairs showed deviations approaching the 0.01 level.
   • The organization reports private label cheeses have been forced to raise their prices as well, often to levels approaching those of branded products.

   Synonyms

   border on, approximate, verge on, resemble
4. 1.4archaic Bring nearer.
   〈古〉使接近
   all those changes shall serve to approach him the faster to the blest mansion

   所有那些变化会使他更快接近那幢福宅。

2Speak to (someone) for the first time about something, typically with a proposal or request.

已向部里反映过资金的问题。

3Start to deal with (something) in a certain way.

此事必须谨慎处理。

1A way of dealing with something.

关于这工作我们需要一种全新的处理方法。

2An act of speaking to someone for the first time about something, typically a proposal or request.

土地所有者找开发商初步商谈。

1. 2.1approachesdated Behavior intended to propose personal or sexual relations with someone.
   〈旧〉（为建立私人关系或与异性发生性关系而向某人的）主动接触，主动亲近
   feminine resistance to his approaches

   女性对他亲近行为的抵制。

   Example sentencesExamples

   • She told a District Court inquiry this week that she had taped telephone conversations with him in 2000 and 2001 because she feared he would kill her after she rejected his approaches.
   • But she knew why he would never because she would never accept his approaches.
   • When she rejected his approaches, he began to treat her meanly and find fault with her.

   Synonyms

   advances, overtures, suggestions, attentions

3in singular The action of coming near or nearer to someone or something in distance or time.

冬天的临近。

1. 3.1approach to An approximation to something.
   接近，相似，近似
   the past is impossible to recall with any approach to accuracy

   过去的事情不可能回想得毫发不差。

   Synonyms

   approximation, likeness, semblance, correspondence, parallel
2. 3.2 The part of an aircraft's flight in which it descends gradually toward an airfield or runway for landing.
   （飞机的）进场（指飞机逐渐降低飞行高度，接近机场或跑道，以便着陆）
   the aircraft completed the approach and touched down

   Example sentencesExamples

   • Keep the ball in the middle in all phases of the approach to align the aircraft for maximum efficiency.
   • The approach and landing were uneventful and the crew and aircraft were recovered safely.
   • The second approach was a little fast and one wing high but we got on the runway.
   • The airplane was observed on a three-mile final approach when it entered a left bank.
   • Transition from flying Cessnas to Pipers and see how much more aware it makes you of all aspects of the approach.
   • The crew had time to concentrate on the approach as we descended through the clouds.
   • You could even fly the entire approach at 70 knots if there was no need to expedite for other traffic.
   • In this case, the best plan is to have a very shallow approach and a slow descent rate.
   • I thought you were tossed around like a rag doll on final landing approach because you were flying too slow.
   • That, combined with the landing weight, explained the high approach and landing speed.
   • A downhill runway may cause you to fly a too-high approach, and an overshoot would be likely.
   • He set up for a half-flap approach and lowered the landing gear with the emergency system.
   • Landing with one failed engine is very unforgiving; you have to get it right on the first approach.
   • The Gary airport was small and grassy so I made a nice easy approach and landing.
3. 3.3usually approaches A road, sea passage, or other way leading to a place.
   通道，道路；航道；进路
   the eastern approach to the town

   Example sentencesExamples

   • It isn't so long since we were carrying stories and readers' letters complaining about the state of the railway embankments on the approaches to Bradford.
   • Using canoes they penetrated the enemy's shipping lines in the approaches to Singapore and placed limpet mines destroying three vessels.
   • In the jungle, fighting patrols are guarding the surrounding villages and watching the approaches to the capital to monitor the activity of the rebels.
   • Aircraft patrolled the approaches to ports looking for German and Japanese submarines.
   • But there are limits to the number of new or wider roads that can be constructed, and the approaches to towns and cities are already becoming a concrete jungle.
   • Three new pedestrian islands will be built and an anti-skid coating applied in Brunshaw Road on the approaches to the roundabout.
   • The first part of a plan to upgrade a number of locations in Clogh Village has been the provision of rumble strips and school warning signs on the approaches to the village and the National School.
   • It gave a commanding view over the approaches to the farm, and there wasn't a single watchman; there were two of them, each marching half the walkway's circuit.
   • That brings traffic problems as drivers jostle for spaces or park thoughtlessly blocking entrances, bus stops and the approaches to pedestrian crossings.
   • A long string of cars behind his vehicle testified to the jammed approaches to the major artery out of Downtown.
   • The minehunters had been in the area clearing unexploded weapons, including mines, from the approaches to the port.
   • By our English law there is a public right of passage through our navigable channels, whether in a port or the approaches to it.
   • This in turn would allow major improvements in the capacity of the route and would also provide time savings for long distance services on the approaches to Dublin.
   • If we wish to brighten up one of the busiest approaches to the city, why stop at Oak Lane?
   • He also suggested larger warning signs, the cross hatching of the left hand lane and better lighting on the approaches to major junctions.
   • Those corridors provided natural approaches to the Ledo Road.
   • There the King learned that a formidable French fleet lay at anchor in the mouth of the Zwyn, guarding the approaches to Bruges.
   • Adare port need not have existed at all if the approaches to Limerick docks were better.
   • The 30 mph limit should stay except in the approaches to schools, hospitals, old folks homes etc. where the limit should be 15 mph and strictly enforced.
   • The war caused the temporary suspension of this plan; nevertheless, a sum of £6,600 was spent on concreting the quay roads and approaches to the berths.

   Synonyms

   driveway, drive, access road, road, avenue, street, passageway