verb (intr, preposition)1. to gain access to
the dog could not get at the meat on the high shelf
2. to mean or intend
what are you getting at when you look at me like that?
3. to irritate or annoy persistently; criticize
she is always getting at him
4. to influence or seek to influence, esp illegally by bribery, intimidation, etc
someone had got at the witness before the trial