Functioning and Approach

functioning

Process or manner of functioning or operating.
- usage: "the power of its engine determines its operation"; "the plane's operation in high winds"; "they compared the cooking performance of each oven"; "the jet's performance conformed to high standards"
- synonyms: operation, performance

Perform as expected when applied.
- usage: "The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in"; "Does this old car still run well"; "This old radio doesn't work anymore"
- synonyms: function, work, operate, go, run
Serve a purpose, role, or function.
- usage: "The tree stump serves as a table"; "The female students served as a control group"; "This table would serve very well"; "His freedom served him well"; "The table functions as a desk"
- synonyms: serve, function
Perform duties attached to a particular office or place or function.
- usage: "His wife officiated as his private secretary"
- synonyms: officiate, function

Performing or able to perform its regular function.
- usage: "a functioning flashlight"

approach

Ideas or actions intended to deal with a problem or situation.
- usage: "his approach to every problem is to draw up a list of pros and cons"; "an attack on inflation"; "his plan of attack was misguided"
- synonyms: attack, plan of attack
The act of drawing spatially closer to something.
- usage: "the hunter's approach scattered the geese"
- synonyms: approaching, coming
A way of entering or leaving.
- usage: "he took a wrong turn on the access to the bridge"
- synonyms: access
The final path followed by an aircraft as it is landing.
- synonyms: approach path, glide path, glide slope
The event of one object coming closer to another.
- synonyms: approaching
A tentative suggestion designed to elicit the reactions of others.
- usage: "she rejected his advances"
- synonyms: overture, advance, feeler
The temporal property of becoming nearer in time.
- usage: "the approach of winter"
- synonyms: approaching, coming
A close approximation.
- usage: "the nearest approach to genius"
A relatively short golf shot intended to put the ball onto the putting green.
- usage: "he lost the hole when his approach rolled over the green"
- synonyms: approach shot

Move towards.
- usage: "We were approaching our destination"; "They are drawing near"; "The enemy army came nearer and nearer"
- synonyms: near, come on, go up, draw near, draw close, come near
Come near or verge on, resemble, come nearer in quality, or character.
- usage: "This borders on discrimination"; "His playing approaches that of Horowitz"
- synonyms: border on
Begin to deal with.
- usage: "approach a task"; "go about a difficult problem"; "approach a new project"
- synonyms: set about, go about
Come near in time.
- usage: "Winter is approaching"; "approaching old age"
- synonyms: come near
Make advances to someone, usually with a proposal or suggestion.
- usage: "I was approached by the President to serve as his adviser in foreign matters"

(v.i.) A access or opportunity of drawing near.
(v.t.) To take approaches to.
(v.t.) To bring near; to cause to draw near; to advance.
(v.i.) See Approaching.
(v.i.) The advanced works, trenches or covered roads made by besiegers in their advances toward a fortress or military post.
(v.i.) A way, passage or avenue by which a place or buildings can be approached; an access.
(v.i.) Movements to gain favor; advances.
(v.i.) To come or go near, in place or time; to draw nigh; to advance nearer.
(v.i.) The act of drawing near; a coming or advancing near.
(v.i.) To draw near, in a figurative sense; to make advances; to approximate; as, he approaches to the character of the ablest statesman.
(v.t.) To come near to in place, time or character; to draw nearer to; as, to approach the city; to approach my cabin; he approached the age of manhood.
(n.) A stroke whose object is to land the ball on the putting green. It is made with an iron club.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary