Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - access

(accesses, accessing, accessed) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. If you have access to a building or other place, you are able or allowed to go into it. The facilities have been adapted to give access to wheelchair users... Scientists have only recently been able to gain access to the area... The Mortimer Hotel offers easy access to central London. N-UNCOUNT: usu N to n 2. If you have access to something such as information or equipment, you have the opportunity or right to see it or use it. ...a Code of Practice that would give patients right of access to their medical records. N-UNCOUNT: usu N to n 3. If you have access to a person, you have the opportunity or right to see them or meet them. He was not allowed access to a lawyer. N-UNCOUNT: usu N to n 4. If you access something, especially information held on a computer, you succeed in finding or obtaining it. You’ve illegally accessed and misused confidential security files. VERB: V n