near

adv., prep., adj., & v.
—adv.
1 (often foll. by to) to or at a short distance in space or time; close by (the time drew near; dropped near to them).
2 closely (as near as one can guess).
3 archaic almost, nearly (very near died).
4 archaic parsimoniously; meanly (lives very near).
—prep. (compar. & superl. also used)
1 to or at a short distance (in space, time, condition, or resemblance) from (stood near the back; occurs nearer the end; the sun is near setting).
2 (in comb.) a that is almost (near-hysterical; a near-Communist). b intended as a substitute for; resembling (near-beer).
—adj.
1 (usu. predic.) close at hand; close to, in place or time (the man nearest you; in the near future).
2 a closely related (a near relation). b intimate (a near friend).
3 (of a part of a vehicle, animal, or road) left (the near fore leg; near side front wheel (orig. of the side from which one mounted)) (opp. OFF).
4 close; narrow (a near escape; a near guess).
5 (of a road or way) direct.
6 niggardly, mean.
—v.
1 tr. approach; draw near to (neared the harbour).
2 intr. draw near (could distinguish them as they neared).
Phrases and idioms:
come (or go) near (foll. by verbal noun, or to + verbal noun) be on the point of, almost succeed in (came near to falling). go near (foll. by to + infin.) narrowly fail. near at hand
1 within easy reach.
2 in the immediate future. the Near East the region comprising the countries of the eastern Mediterranean. Near Eastern of the Near East. near go colloq. a narrow escape. near the knuckle colloq. verging on the indecent.
near miss
1 (of a bomb etc.) close to the target.
2 a situation in which a collision is narrowly avoided.
3 (of an attempt) almost but not quite successful. near sight esp. US = short sight. near thing a narrow escape. near upon archaic not far in time from.
Derivatives:
nearish adj. nearness n.
Etymology: ME f. ON naeligr, orig. compar. of naacute = OE neah NIGH