Noun

(uncountable) A way or means of approaching or entering; an entrance; a passage.

* All access was thronged. - Milton

(uncountable) The act of approaching or entering; an advance.

(uncountable) The right or ability of approaching or entering; admittance; admission; accessibility.

(uncountable) The quality of being easy to approach or enter.

* c. 1600 , (William Shakespeare), Act 2 Scene 1

I did repel his fetters, and denied His access to me. - Shakespeare, Hamlet, II-i

* {{quote-news, year=2011

, date=September 20 , author=Graeme Paton , title=University access plan 'will fail', says Russell Group , work=Telegraph citation , page= , passage=Coalition plans to widen access to university will fail to get to the 'root cause' of the problem, according to the Russell Group.}}

(uncountable) Admission to sexual intercourse.

* 1760s , (William Blackstone),

During coverture, access of the husband shall be presumed, unless the contrary be shown.

(countable) An increase by addition; accession; as, an access of territory.

* I, from the influence of thy looks, receive access in every virtue. - Milton

(countable) An onset, attack, or fit of disease; an ague fit.

* The first access looked like an apoplexy. - Burnet

(countable) An outburst of an emotion; a paroxysm; a fit of passion; as, an access of fury.

* 1946 , Arnold J. Toynbee, A Study of History (Abridgement of Volumes I-VI by D.C. Somervell)

It appears that, about the middle of the fourth century of the Christian Era, the Germans in the Roman service started the new practice of retaining their native names; and this change of etiquette, which seems to have been abrupt, points to a sudden access of self-confidence and self-assurance in the souls of the barbarian personnel which had previously been content to 'go Roman' without reservations.

Usage note: sometimes confused with excess

(uncountable, legal) The right of a non-custodial parent to visit their child.

(uncountable, computing) The process of locating data in memory.

(uncountable, Internet) Connection to or communication with a computer program or to the Internet.