Also means
to board
Usage Note
Abordar means both to board a vessel or vehicle (abordar el barco) and to tackle or approach a subject (abordar el tema). The latter figurative sense is extremely common in journalism and academic writing. From the nautical root bordo (side of a ship), it shares an origin with English 'aboard'.
Examples
"Hay que abordar este problema con cuidado."
Natural Translation
This problem must be approached carefully.

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