n.
- chiefly N. Amer. a tall cupboard or wardrobe.
- a small room.
▸archaic a toilet.
-
(the closet)
(especially with reference to homosexuality) a state of secrecy or concealment.
▸
[
as modifier]
secret; covert:
a closet socialist.
v.
(closets, closeting, closeted)
- shut away in private conference or study:
he was closeted with the king.
-
[as adj. closeted]
keeping something, especially one's homosexuality, secret.
Etymology
ME: from OFr., dimin. of clos (see close1).