close

1.
adj., adv., & n.
—adj.
1 (often foll. by to) situated at only a short distance or interval.
2 a having a strong or immediate relation or connection (close friend; close relative). b in intimate friendship or association (were very close). c corresponding almost exactly (close resemblance). d fitting tightly (close cap). e (of hair etc.) short, near the surface.
3 in or almost in contact (close combat; close proximity).
4 dense, compact, with no or only slight intervals (close texture; close writing; close formation; close thicket).
5 in which competitors are almost equal (close contest; close election).
6 leaving no gaps or weaknesses, rigorous (close reasoning).
7 concentrated, searching (close examination; close attention).
8 (of air etc.) stuffy or humid.
9 closed, shut.
10 limited or restricted to certain persons etc. (close corporation; close scholarship).
11 a hidden, secret, covered. b secretive.
12 (of a danger etc.) directly threatening, narrowly avoided (that was close).
13 niggardly.
14 (of a vowel) pronounced with a relatively narrow opening of the mouth.
15 narrow, confined, contracted.
16 under prohibition.
—adv.
1 (often foll. by by, on, to, upon) at only a short distance or interval (they live close by; close to the church).
2 closely, in a close manner (shut close).
—n.
1 an enclosed space.
2 Brit. a street closed at one end.
3 Brit. the precinct of a cathedral.
4 Brit. a school playing-field or playground.
5 Sc. an entry from the street to a common stairway or to a court at the back.
Phrases and idioms:
at close quarters very close together. close-fisted niggardly. close-fitting (of a garment) fitting close to the body. close-grained without gaps between fibres etc. close harmony harmony in which the notes of the chord are close together. close-hauled (of a ship) with the sails hauled aft to sail close to the wind. close-knit tightly bound or interlocked; closely united in friendship. close-mouthed reticent. close score Mus. a score with more than one part on the same staff. close season Brit. the season when something, esp. the killing of game etc., is illegal. close-set separated only by a small interval or intervals. close shave colloq. a narrow escape. close to the wind see WIND(1). close-up
1 a photograph etc. taken at close range and showing the subject on a large scale.
2 an intimate description. go close (of a racehorse) win or almost win.
Derivatives:
closely adv. closeness n. closish adj.
Etymology: ME f. OF clos f. L clausum enclosure & clausus past part. of claudere shut
2.
v. & n.
—v.
1 a tr. shut (a lid, box, door, room, house, etc.). b intr. be shut (the door closed slowly). c tr. block up.
2 a tr. & intr. bring or come to an end. b intr. finish speaking (closed with an expression of thanks). c tr. settle (a bargain etc.).
3 a intr. end the day's business. b tr. end the day's business at (a shop, office, etc.).
4 tr. & intr. bring or come closer or into contact (close ranks).
5 tr. make (an electric circuit etc.) continuous.
6 intr. (foll. by with) express agreement (with an offer, terms, or the person offering them).
7 intr. (often foll. by with) come within striking distance; grapple.
8 intr. (foll. by on) (of a hand, box, etc.) grasp or entrap.
—n.
1 a conclusion, an end.
2 Mus. a cadence.
Phrases and idioms:
close down
1 (of a shop, factory, etc.) discontinue business, esp. permanently.
2 Brit. (of a broadcasting station) end transmission esp. until the next day. close one's eyes 1 (foll. by to) pay no attention.
2 die.
close in
1 enclose.
2 come nearer.
3 (of days) get successively shorter with the approach of the winter solstice. close out US discontinue, terminate, dispose of (a business).
close up
1 (often foll. by to) move closer.
2 shut, esp. temporarily.
3 block up.
4 (of an aperture) grow smaller.
5 coalesce. closing-time the time at which a public house, shop, etc., ends business.
Derivatives:
closable adj. closer n.
Etymology: ME f. OF clos- stem of clore f. L claudere shut