Reach  —v. 1 (often foll. By out) stretch out, extend. 2 (often foll. By for) stretch out the hand etc.; make a stretch or effort. 3 get as far as. 4 get to or attain. 5 make contact with the hand etc., or by telephone etc. (could not be reached). 6 hand, pass (reach me that book). 7 take with an outstretched hand. 8 naut. Sail with the wind abeam or abaft the beam. —n. 1 extent to which a hand etc. Can be reached out, influence exerted, motion carried out, or mental powers used. 2 act of reaching out. 3 continuous extent, esp. Of river between two bends or of canal between locks. 4 naut. Distance traversed in reaching.  reachable adj. [old english]