close1
/
kləʊs/
adj.
- only a short distance away or apart in space or time.
▸dense:
close print.
▸
(close to)
very near to (being or doing something).
- denoting someone who is part of a person's immediate family, typically a parent or sibling.
▸on very affectionate or intimate terms.
▸(of a connection or resemblance) strong.
- (of observation or examination) done carefully and thoroughly.
- (of information) carefully guarded:
a close secret.
▸not willing to give away money or information.
- uncomfortably humid or airless.
- Phonetics another term for high (sense 7).
adv.
so as to be very near; with very little space between.
n.
- Brit. a residential street without through access.
- Brit. the precinct surrounding a cathedral.
- Scottish an entry from the street to a common stairway or to a court at the back of a building.
Phrase
- at
(or from)
close quarters
(or range)
very or overly close to someone or something. - close-fisted
unwilling to spend money; mean. - close-knit
(of a group of people) united by strong relationships and common interests. - close-mouthed
reticent; discreet. - close-run
(of a contest or objective) won or lost by a very small margin. - close-set
(of things) having little space in between. - close shave
(also close call)
informal a narrow escape from danger or disaster.
Derivative
- closely adv.
- closeness n.
- closish adj.
Etymology
ME: from OFr. clos, from L. clausum ‘enclosure’ and clausus ‘closed’ (past part. of claudere).
close2
/
kləʊz/
v.
- move so as to cover an opening.
-
(also close something up)
bring two parts of (something) together.
▸make or become narrower or blocked:
she felt her throat close up.
-
(close on/in on/up on)
gradually get nearer to or surround.
▸
(close with)
come near, especially so as to engage with (an enemy force).
▸
(close in)
(of days) get successively shorter with the approach of the winter solstice.
-
(close around/over)
encircle and hold.
- bring or come to an end.
▸finish speaking or writing.
▸satisfactorily conclude (a business transaction).
-
(often close down/up)
(of a business or other organization) cease to be open to the public or in operation.
- make (an electric circuit) continuous.
n.
- the end of an event or of a period of time or activity:
the day drew to a close.
- the shutting of a door.
Derivative
- closable adj.
- closer n.
- closing adj.
Etymology
ME: from OFr. clos-, stem of clore, from L. claudere ‘to shut’.