Oxford Basic American Dictionary

to come near to someone or something in distance or time As you approach the town, you'll see a church on your right.

Their final exams were approaching.

ap • proach 2 AWL / a' proutj / noun ( plural ap . proach . es )

[ count ] a way of doing something

This is a new approach to learning languages.

[ noncount ] coming near or nearer to someone or something

the approach of winter

ap •pro • pri • ate © |awl / a 'proupriat /

adjective

suitable or right for a particular situation, person, etc. Jeans and T-shirts are not appropriate for a job interview.

—ANTONYM inappropriate

► ap • pro • pri • ate • lyAWL / a ' proupriatli / adverb Please come appropriately dressed.

ap • prov • al / a pruvl / noun [noncount]

feeling, showing, or saying that something or someone is good or right

Tania's parents gave the marriage their approval . —ANTONYM disapproval

official permission to do something

We finally got approval for our building plans.

ЭР .prOVe © /э'ршу/ verb ( ap proves , ap . prov ing , ap . proved )

to think or say that something or someone is good or right

My parents don't approve of my friends. She doesn't approve of smoking.

—ANTONYM disapprove

to officially agree to something or say that something is correct

Has your boss approved your vacation days?

ap • prox • i • mate Iaw / a'praksamat /

adjective

almost correct but not exact

The approximate time of arrival is three o'clock.

ap • prox • i • mate • ly AWl| /a 'praksamatli /

adverb

about; more or less

I live approximately two miles from the station. —SYNONYM roughly

a • pri • cot / ' reprikat ; ' eiprikat / noun [ count ] a small soft yellow or orange fruit with a large seed inside

A . pril Ф / ' eiprel / noun [ count, noncount ]

( abbreviation Apr. ) the fourth month of the year

a • pron / ' eipren / noun [ count ] a thing that you wear over the front of your clothes to keep them clean, especially when you are cooking

ap • ti • tude / ' a-pt.^tud / noun

[ count, noncount ]

a natural ability or skill at doing something He has an aptitude for learning languages.

a • quar • i • um / э ' kwo^m / noun [ count ]

a large glass container filled with water, in which fish are kept

a building where people can go to see fish and other water animals

a • quat • ic / э ' kwretik / adjective

( biology ) living or happening in or on water aquatic plants

sailing and other aquatic sports

arc / ark / noun [ count ] ( math ) a curved line; part of a circle — Look at the picture at circle .

ar • cade / ar keid / noun [ count ]

a large room with machines and games that you put coins in to play

a video game arcade

arch / artj/ noun

[count]

( plural arch . es )

a part of a bridge, building, or wall that is in the shape of a half circle

ar • chae • ol • o • gist

(also ar . che .ol .o .gist ) / ,arki 'abd3ist / noun [count] a person who studies or knows a lot about archaeology

ar • chae • ol • o • gy ( also ar . che ol o . gy )

/ ,arki 'abd3i / noun [ noncount ]

the study of the past by looking at objects or parts of old buildings that are found in the ground ► ar • chae • o • log • i • cal ( also ar . che o. log . i . cal )

/ ^гЫэ ' ladзэkl / adjective archaeological remains

ar • chi • tect / ' a^tekt / noun [ count ]

a person whose job is to design and plan buildings

ar • chi • tec • ture / ' a^tekt^r / noun

[ noncount ]

the study of designing and making buildings He has a degree in architecture.