Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

1 ADJ An appreciative reaction or comment shows the enjoyment that you are getting from something. □  There is a murmur of appreciative laughter.

2 ADJ If you are appreciative of something, you are grateful for it. □ [+ of ] We have been very appreciative of their support.

ap|pre|hend /æ pr I he nd/ (apprehends , apprehending , apprehended ) VERB If the police apprehend someone, they catch them and arrest them. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] Police have not apprehended her killer.

ap|pre|hen|sion /æ pr I he nʃ ^ə n/ (apprehensions )

1 N‑VAR Apprehension is a feeling of fear that something bad may happen. [FORMAL ] □  It reflects real anger and apprehension about the future. □  I tensed every muscle in my body in apprehension.

2 N‑UNCOUNT The apprehension of someone who is thought to be a criminal is their capture or arrest by the police. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …information leading to the apprehension of the alleged killer.

ap|pre|hen|sive /æ pr I he ns I v/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Someone who is apprehensive is afraid that something bad may happen. □ [+ about ] People are still terribly apprehensive about the future.

ap|pren|tice /əpre nt I s/ (apprentices , apprenticing , apprenticed )

1 N‑COUNT [oft N n] An apprentice is a young person who works for someone in order to learn their skill. □  He left school at 15 and trained as an apprentice carpenter.

2 VERB [usu passive] If a young person is apprenticed to someone, they go to work for them in order to learn their skill. □ [be V -ed + to ] I was apprenticed to a builder when I was fourteen.

ap|pren|tice|ship /əpre nt I sʃ I p/ (apprenticeships ) N‑VAR Someone who has an apprenticeship works for a fixed period of time for a person who has a particular skill in order to learn the skill. Apprenticeship is the system of learning a skill like this.

ap|prise /əpra I z/ (apprises , apprising , apprised ) VERB When you are apprised of something, someone tells you about it. [FORMAL ] □ [be V -ed + of ] Have customers been fully apprised of the advantages? □ [V n + of ] We must apprise them of the dangers that may be involved.

ap|proach ◆◆◇ /əproʊ tʃ/ (approaches , approaching , approached )

1 VERB When you approach something, you get closer to it. □ [V n] He didn't approach the front door at once. □ [V ] When I approached, they grew silent. □ [V -ing] We turned to see the approaching car slow down. ● N‑COUNT [usu sing] Approach is also a noun. □  At their approach the little boy ran away and hid. □  …the approach of a low-flying helicopter.

2 N‑COUNT An approach to a place is a road, path, or other route that leads to it. □ [+ to ] The path serves as an approach to the boat house.

3 VERB [no cont] If you approach someone about something, you speak to them about it for the first time, often making an offer or request. □ [V n prep] When Chappel approached me about the job, my first reaction was disbelief. □ [V n to-inf] He approached me to create and design the restaurant. □ [V n] Anna approached several builders and was fortunate to come across Eddie. ● N‑COUNT Approach is also a noun. □ [+ from ] There had already been approaches from buyers interested in the whole of the group. [Also + to ]