reach

verb

• 1 [no object, with adverbial of direction] stretch out an arm in a specified direction in order to touch or grasp something:he reached over and turned off his bedside light
• (reach for) extend one’s hand or arm in an attempt to touch or grasp (something):Leith reached for the nearest folder
• [with object] (reach something out) stretch out one’s hand or arm:he reached out a hand and touched her hair
• [with object] (reach something down) stretch upwards to pick something up and bring it to a lower level:she reached down a plate from the cupboard
• [with two objects] hand (something) to (someone):reach me those glasses
• [no object] be able to touch something with an outstretched arm or leg:I had to stand on tiptoe and even then I could hardly reach

• 2 [with object] arrive at; get as far as:‘Goodbye,’ she said as they reached the door the show is due to reach our screens early next year
• [no object] West Indian arrive:just round that corner, by them mango trees, and we reach

• 3 [with object] attain or extend to (a specified point, level, or condition):unemployment reached a peak in 1933 [no object]:denim shorts that reach to his knees
• succeed in achieving:the conference reached agreement on the draft treaty
• succeed in influencing or having an effect on:he seeks opportunities to reach viewers without journalistic interference

• 4 [with object] make contact with (someone) by telephone or other means:I’ve been trying to reach you all morning
• (of a broadcast or other communication) be received by:television reached those parts of the electorate that other news sources could not

• 5 [no object] Sailing sail with the wind blowing from the side of the ship: ‘Brighteyes’ was followed round the Goldstone by ‘Patriot’, while ‘Patriot’ white-sail reached

noun

• 1an act of reaching out with one’s arm:she made a reach for him
• [in singular] the distance to which someone, especially a boxer, can stretch out their hand:a giant, over six feet seven with a reach of over 81 inches

• 2the extent or range of something’s application, effect, or influence:he told a story to illustrate the reach of his fame
• the number of people who watch or listen to a particular broadcast or channel during a specified period:the programme’s daily reach is 400,000

• 3 (often reaches) a continuous extent of water, especially a stretch of river between two bends, or the part of a canal between locks:the upper reaches of the Nile

• 4 Sailing a distance traversed in reaching: he could sail a clear reach for Key Canaka