closely

Variant of close

close definition

close (klōs)

adjective closer clos′er, closest clos′·est

  1. shut; not open enclosed or enclosing; shut in confined or confining; narrow close quarters carefully guarded close custody shut away from observation; hidden; secluded secretive; reserved; reticent miserly; stingy restricted, as in membership oppressively warm and stuffy: said of the weather, atmosphere, etc. not readily available credit is closePhonet. articulated with the tongue relatively high in the mouth, near the palate: said of certain vowels, as the (ē) in eat
  2. with little space between; with the intervening space closing or closed up; near together having parts or elements near together; compact; dense close marching order, close weave fitting tightly a close coat
    1. down or near to the surface on which something grows; very short a close shave
    2. not far away; nearby a close neighbor
    near in interests, affection, etc.; intimate; familiar a close friend varying little from the original or model a close translation strict; thorough; careful a close search compactly expressed; concise a close description accurate; logical; precise close reasoning nearly equal or alike close in age difficult to resolve or uncertain in outcome a close decision

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

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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