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the ability, right, or permission to approach, enter, speak with, or use; admittance:
They have access to the files.
the state or quality of being approachable:
The house was difficult of access.
a way or means of approach:
The only access to the house was a rough dirt road.
Theology. approach to God through Jesus Christ.
an attack or onset, as of a disease.
a sudden and strong emotional outburst.
.
.
to make contact with or gain access to; be able to reach, approach, enter, etc.:
Bank customers can access their checking accounts instantly through the new electronic system.
Computers. to locate (data) for transfer from one part of a computer system to another, generally between an external storage device and main storage.
Television. (of programming, time, etc.) available to the public:
Six channels now offer access services.
Contemporary Examples

He suggested that changes should be considered only about how it is stored and how it is accessed.
The Domestic Spying of Hoover’s FBI Is an Eerie Prequel to the NSA’s Snooping Today Betty Medsger March 22, 2014

The full name of the passenger, Hourdajian told The Daily Beast, can be accessed from within the Uber app by the driver.
Uber’s Biggest Problem Isn’t Surge Pricing. What If It’s Sexual Harassment by Drivers? Olivia Nuzzi March 27, 2014

“We accessed the wrong database,” the admissions director later said.
The New York Times’s Subscriber Fiasco and More Biggest Email Blunders December 28, 2011

Mostly, I accessed my account from the small screen of my phone, following world leaders, writers, and others I admire.
How I (Digitally) Killed My Twitter Impostor JoBeth McDaniel July 20, 2014

The agency’s audit concluded that the Senate staffers using the database had accessed documents they were not authorized to see.
What’s Inside CIA’s ‘Black Site’ Database? And Were Senate Staffers Allowed to See? Eli Lake March 7, 2014

Historical Examples

Higher resolution versions of the star maps and lunar charts may be accessed by clicking on the images in the text.
Pleasures of the telescope Garrett Serviss

High-resolution images of the maps can be accessed by clicking on them.
From Bapaume to Passchendaele, 1917 Philip Gibbs

The second set of footnotes, used for commentary on the text, is accessed through hyperlinks in this document.
Henry the Sixth John Blacman

High-resolution images of the photos of the soliders following pages 16, 56 and 72 can be accessed by clicking on them.
History of Ambulance Company Number 139 Various

High-resolution images of the photos can be accessed by clicking on them.
Napoleon’s Marshals R. P. Dunn-Pattison

noun
the act of approaching or entering
the condition of allowing entry, esp (of a building or room) allowing entry by wheelchairs, prams, etc
the right or privilege to approach, reach, enter, or make use of something
a way or means of approach or entry
the opportunity or right to see or approach someone: she fights for divorce and free access to her children
(modifier) designating programmes made by the general public as distinguished from those made by professional broadcasters: access television
a sudden outburst or attack, as of rage or disease
verb
to gain access to; make accessible or available
(transitive) (computing)

to obtain or retrieve (information) from a storage device
to place (information) in a storage device See also direct access, sequential access

n.

early 14c., “an attack of fever,” from Old French acces “onslaught, attack; onset (of an illness)” (14c.), from Latin accessus “a coming to, an approach,” noun use of past participle of accedere “approach” (see accede). The later senses are directly from Latin. Meaning “an entrance” is from c.1600. Meaning “habit or power of getting into the presence of (someone or something)” is from late 14c.
v.

1962, originally in computing, from access (n.). Related: Accessed; accessing.

access ac·cess (āk’sěs)
n.

A means of approaching, entering, exiting, or making use of; passage.

The space required to view a tooth and manipulate dental instruments to remove decay and prepare the tooth for restoration.

The opening in the crown of a tooth necessary to allow adequate admittance to the pulp space to clean, shape, and seal the root canal.

Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board