to stretch out your arm or body so that your hand can touch, pick up, or take something
Mia stood on a chair to reach the cookie jar on the top shelf.
The boy jumped but still couldn’t reach the basketball hoop.
✦ Old English rǣcan “to stretch out, extend.”
to arrive at a place after travelling
We finally reached the hotel just before midnight.
The hikers reached the mountain summit after six hours.
✦ Same Old English root rǣcan, extended figuratively to arriving at a place.
to achieve a particular level, amount, or result
The temperature reached 40°C yesterday.
Her video quickly reached one million views.
✦ Metaphorical extension of reaching with the hand to figuratively touching a target number or level.
the distance or area that your hand, arm, or an object can stretch to touch
Keep cleaning products out of the reach of children.
The microphone was just beyond his reach.
✦ Noun use recorded from the 14th century, from the verb.
to deliver a religious sermon or speak publicly about faith or moral teaching
Every Sunday morning, the minister preaches to a packed congregation.
The monk traveled from village to village, preaching about kindness and compassion.
✦ Middle English ‘prechen’, from Old French ‘precher’, from Late Latin ‘praedicare’ meaning ‘to proclaim’.
to give moral advice or opinions to others, often in a way that seems annoying or superior
My older brother is always preaching to me about saving money.
Stop preaching and let people make their own choices.
an act of breaking a law, promise, or agreement
The company was sued for a breach of contract.
Sharing customers’ personal data without permission is considered a serious breach of privacy.
✦ From Old French breche “break, opening,” from brechier “to break,” related to break.
a hole or opening in a wall, barrier, or defense, especially one made by force
Soldiers charged through the breach in the castle wall.
Huge waves created a breach in the sea defenses during the storm.
✦ Same origin as the sense of “violation,” referring to a broken place in a structure.
to break a law, promise, agreement, or accepted standard
The company breached environmental regulations.
He breaches the terms of his parole if he leaves the state.
✦ Verb sense developed from the noun meaning “break; violation.”
