closeness
Variant of close¹
close¹
Definition
close (klōs)
close to the wind
- Naut. heading as closely as possible in the direction from which the wind is blowing
- barely avoiding what is unlawful
Variant of close²
close²
Definition
close (klōz)
transitive verb closed, closing clos′·ing
- to move (a door, lid, etc.) to a position that covers the opening; shut
- to bar entrance to or exit from to close a street
- to fill up or stop (an opening)
- to draw the edges of together to close an incision
- to clench (a fist)
- to bind together; unite to close forces
- to bring to an end; finish
- to stop or suspend the operation of (a school, business, etc.)
- to complete or make final (a sale, agreement, etc.)
- 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
- to undergo shutting the door closes quietly
- to come to an end
- to end or suspend operations the store closes at noon
- in the stock exchange, to show an indicated price level at the day's end steel closed high
- to have its edges become joined together the wound has closed
- to come together
- to take hold her hand closed on the package
- to throng closely together his friends closed about him
- to lessen an intervening distance; gain closing on the leading runner
- to make contact or come close, as in order to begin fighting
- to arrive at an agreement
noun
- a closing or being closed
- the final part or conclusion; end
- Archaic a hand-to-hand encounter
close down
- ☆ to shut or stop entirely
- ☆ 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
- to draw nearer together
- to shut or stop up entirely
- to heal, as a wound does
Variant of close³
close³
Definition
close (klōs)
noun
- an enclosed place, as a farmyard
- enclosed grounds around or beside a building a cathedral close
- a narrow street or passageway; also, a dead-end street
Etymology: ME clos < OFr < L clausum, orig., neut. pp. of claudere: see close
Browse dictionary entries near closeness
- closemouthed
- closely held corporation
- closely
- closelipped
- closehauled
- closegrained
- closefitting
- closefistedness
- closefisted
- closed user group
- closeout
- closer
- closest
- closet
- closet drama
- closeted
- closing
- closing argument
- closing range
- closing statement
