reach

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

• intransitive verb To stretch out or put forth (a body part); extend.
• intransitive verb To touch or grasp by stretching out or extending.
• intransitive verb To arrive at; attain.
• intransitive verb To succeed in getting in contact with or communicating with.
• intransitive verb To succeed in having an effect on.
• intransitive verb To extend as far as.
• intransitive verb To project as far as.
• intransitive verb To travel as far as.
• intransitive verb To aggregate or amount to.
• intransitive verb Informal To grasp and hand over to another.
• intransitive verb To extend or move a hand, arm, or other body part, especially when trying to touch or grasp something.
• intransitive verb To have extension in space or time.
• intransitive verb To have an influence or effect.
• intransitive verb To make an effort to address the needs of a group or community. Often used with out:
• intransitive verb Nautical To sail with the wind abeam.
• noun The act or an instance of stretching or thrusting out.
• noun The extent or distance something can reach.
• noun Range of understanding; comprehension.
• noun Range or scope of influence or effect: synonym: range.
• noun An expanse of land or water, such as a stretch of water visible between bends in a river or channel.
• noun A rank or level in a social group or organization.
• noun A pole connecting the rear axle of a vehicle with the front.
• noun Nautical The tack of a sailing vessel with the wind abeam.

from The Century Dictionary.

• A variant of retch.
• noun A continuous stretch or course; an uninterrupted line of extension or continuity: as, a reach of level ground; an inland reach of the sea; a reach of a river (a straight course between bends); a reach of a canal (the part between locks, having a uniform level).
• noun Limit or scope of stretch or extension; power of reaching by the outstretched hand or any other agency; the act of or capacity for reaching: as, the reach of the arm; to be within one's reach, or within the reach of the law.
• noun Effective extent or scope; range of capacity or ability; power of accomplishment; grasp; penetration; comprehension.
• noun A reaching out for something; forecast in aim or purpose; a scheme of effort for some end.
• noun The pole connecting the rear axle to the bolster of a wagon or other vehicle; a coupling-pole. See cut under hound, 7.
• noun Nautical, the distance sailed between tacks: same as board, 13 .
• noun An extended point of land; a promontory.
• To hold or stretch forth; extend outward.
• To deliver by or as if by the outstretched hand; hand out or over; extend out to.
• To make a stretch to; bring into contact by or as if by stretching out the hand; attain to by something held or stretched out: as, to reach a book on a shelf; to reach an object with a cane.
• To take, seize, or move by stretching out the hand, or by other effort.
• To attain to by movement or progress; arrive at, physically or mentally; come or get to: as, to reach a port or destination; to reach high office or distinction; to reach a conclusion by study or by reasoning.
• To extend to in continuity or scope; streteh or be prolonged so as to extend to, literally or figuratively: attain to contact with or action upon; penetrate to.
• To come or get at; penetrate or obtain access to; extend cognizance, agency, or influence to: as, to reach a person through his vanity.
• To attain to an understanding of; succeed in comprehending.
• To stretch; have extent in course or direction; continue to or toward a term, limit, or conclusion.
• To extend in amount or capacity; rise in quantity or number; amount; suffice: with to or unto.
• To make a stretch to or toward something, as with the hand or by exertion; stretch forward or onward; make a straining effort: as, to reach out for an apple; to reach at or after gain.
• To attain; arrive; get, as to a point, destination, or aim.
• To turn; start forth.
• Nautical, to sail with the wind free.