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close1 definition

close (klōs)

adjective closer clos′er, closest clos′·est

Etymology: ME clos < OFr < L clausus, pp. of claudere (see close); senses under II from notion “with spaces or intervals closed up”

adverb closer clos′er, closest clos′·est

in a close manner

Related Forms:

close Idioms

close to the wind

  1. Naut. heading as closely as possible in the direction from which the wind is blowing
  2. barely avoiding what is unlawful
close2 definition

close (klōz)

transitive verb closed, closing clos′·ing

  1. to move (a door, lid, etc.) to a position that covers the opening; shut
  2. to bar entrance to or exit from to close a street
  3. to fill up or stop (an opening)
  4. to draw the edges of together to close an incision
  5. to clench (a fist)
  6. to bind together; unite to close forces
  7. to bring to an end; finish
  8. to stop or suspend the operation of (a school, business, etc.)
  9. to complete or make final (a sale, agreement, etc.)
  10. to make stubbornly resistant to close one's mind

Etymology: ME closen < OFr clos-, stem of clore < L claudere, to close, block up < IE base *klēu, klāu-, hook, crooked or forked branch, close with a hook or bar > slot, lot, Gr kleistos, closed, L clavis, key, clavus, nail, OIr clo, nail, Ger schliessen, to lock

intransitive verb

  1. to undergo shutting the door closes quietly
  2. to come to an end
    1. to end or suspend operations the store closes at noon
    2. in the stock exchange, to show an indicated price level at the day's end steel closed high
  3. to have its edges become joined together the wound has closed
  4. to come together
  5. to take hold her hand closed on the package
  6. to throng closely together his friends closed about him
  7. to lessen an intervening distance; gain closing on the leading runner
  8. to make contact or come close, as in order to begin fighting
  9. to arrive at an agreement

noun

  1. a closing or being closed
  2. the final part or conclusion; end
  3. Archaic a hand-to-hand encounter
close Idioms

close down

  1. ☆ to shut or stop entirely
  2. ☆ to settle down (on), as darkness or a fog

close in

to draw near from various directions, cutting off escape on all sides; surround

close out

to dispose of (goods) by sale, as in ending a business

close round

to encircle; surround

close up

  1. to draw nearer together
  2. to shut or stop up entirely
  3. to heal, as a wound does
close3 definition

close (klōs)

noun

  1. an enclosed place, as a farmyard
  2. enclosed grounds around or beside a building a cathedral close
  3. a narrow street or passageway; also, a dead-end street

Etymology: ME clos < OFr < L clausum, orig., neut. pp. of claudere: see close

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:
close Synonyms

close

modif.

  1. Near

    neighboring, nearby, adjacent, around the corner; see approaching, imminent, near 1.

  2. Intimate

    familiar, dear, close-knit, confidential; see friendly 1, intimate 1, private.

  3. Compact

    dense, solid, compressed; see thick 1.

  4. Stingy

    narrow, parsimonious, niggardly; see stingy.

  5. Stifling

    sticky, stuffy, unventilated, heavy, motionless, fusty, uncomfortable, choky, stale-smelling, musty, stagnant, moldy, confined, suffocating, sultry, sweltering, sweltry, tight, stale, oppressive, breathless.

    Antonyms fresh*, refreshing*, brisk. *

  6. Confining

    confined, cramped, restricted; see confining, narrow 1.

  7. Similar

    resembling, having common qualities, much the same; see alike 2, like. See syn. study at familiar, stingy, thick.


close

n.


close

v.

  1. To put a stop to

    conclude, finish, terminate; see end 1.

  2. To put a stopper into

    shut, stop, stopper, choke off, occlude, stuff, clog, fill, calk, prevent passage, retard flow, shut off, turn off, lock, block, bar, dam, cork, seal, seal off, button; see also plug.

    Antonyms open, uncork, unseal.

  3. To come or bring together

    meet, unite, coalesce, chain, connect, tie, bind, fuse, join, enclose, put together; see also join 1.

    Antonyms disconnect, separate*, untie. *

  4. To shut

    slam, close down, close up, shut down, shut up, seal, fasten, secure, lock, bolt, clench, bar, shutter, clap, bring to, suspend operations, cease operations, go out of business, fold*.

  5. To arrive at an agreement

    settle, complete a deal, consummate, clinch; see achieve 1, agree, decide. See syn. study at end.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

close Usage Examples

Object

  • gap: Perry was soon past into 2nd place and immediately began to close the gap on Davis.

Converse of object

  • locate: Both are centrally located close to the Frejus lift.

Preposition: at

  • midnight: But decide quickly- lines close at midnight on Tuesday 23rd May.

Adjective modifier

  • located: So we stopped into the Turks Head located close to the ruins.

Modifies a noun

  • proximity: ICT businesses need flexible working space in close proximity to research partners.

Used with adjective complement

  • come: Perhaps only Richard Hawley, when he's debating the finer points of local planning policy, comes close.

Followed by a transitive particle

  • down: They remained close down the reach, with both crews desperate to win.

Possessives

  • choosing: You can close a heading by selecting it again, or by choosing ' close ' at the bottom of each section.

Infinitive complement

  • zero: For the angles, put your rear foot on at as close to zero as you can without having toe over hang.
close usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

close quotes

A tale should be judicious, clear, succinct; The language plain, and incidents well linked; Tell not as new what ev'ry body knows, And new or old, still hasten to a close.

-Cowper,William

With lack of sleep and too much understanding I grow a little crazy,Ithink, likeall menat seawho livetoo closeto each other and too close thereby to all that is monstrous under the sun and moon.

-Golding, Sir William (Gerald)

Close the playand keep the store open nights.

-Kaufman, George S(imon)

close quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"close." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/close>

APA Style

close. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/close

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