Definition of: address

(ə·dres′) v.t. ad·dressed, ad·dress·ing
1. To speak to; accost: She addressed the bystanders fiercely.
2. To deliver a set discourse to: The president addressed the council every third week.
3. To direct, as spoken or written words, to the attention of: with to: He addressed his letters to his wife.
4. To devote the energy or force of (oneself): with to: He addressed himself to the task.
5. To superscribe or mark with a destination, as a letter.
6. To consign, as a cargo to a merchant.
7. To aim or direct, as a ball by a golf club.
8. To pay court to, as a lover; woo.
—noun (ə) ·dres′, esp. for 2 and 3 (ad′res)
1. A set or formal discourse; a speaking to or accosting; an appeal; application; petition.
2. The writing on an envelope, etc. directing something to a person or place.
3. The name, place, residence, etc. of a person.
4. Consignment, as of a vessel or cargo.
5. The manner of a person; delivery; bearing.
6. Chiefly plural Any courteous or devoted attention; wooing.
7. Skillful conduct or action; adroitness; tact.
8. Electronics a A particular location in the memory or storage element of a computer, as indicated by a number or other symbol. b a designation referring to a person for the purpose of sending or receiving electronic mail.
9. Obs. Preparation or that which is prepared. [<OF adresser <VL addrictiare, addirectiare <L ad- to + directus straight]
—ad·dress·er, ad·dress·or noun Synonyms (verb): accost, apostrophize, appeal, approach, court, greet, hail, inscribe, salute, woo. To accost is to speak first to; greet is not so distinctly limited; to salute is to greet with special token of respect; to hail is to greet in a loud-voiced and commonly hearty and joyous way. Address is slightly more formal than accost or greet, though it may often be interchanged with them. One may address another at considerable length in a speech or in writing; one accosts orally and briefly. Antonyms: avoid, cut, elude, ignore, overlook, pass, shun. Synonyms (noun): adroitness, courtesy, dexterity, discretion, ingenuity, manners, politeness, readiness, speech, tact. Address, as here considered, is a general power to direct to the matter in hand whatever qualities are most needed for it at the moment. It includes adroitness and discretion to know what to do or say and what to avoid; ingenuity to devise; readiness to speak or act; the dexterity that comes of practice; and tact, which is the power of fine touch as applied to human character and feeling. Courtesy and politeness are indispensable elements of good address. Compare SPEECH. Antonyms: awkwardness, boorishness, clownishness, clumsiness, fatuity, folly, rudeness, stupidity, unmannerliness, unwisdom.