close

close¹ [kləʊs]

adjective

1》 only a short distance away or apart in space or time.

    ↘dense: close print.

    ↘(close to) very near to (being or doing something).

2》 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.

3》 (of observation or examination) done carefully and thoroughly.

4》 (of information) carefully guarded: a close secret.

    ↘not willing to give away money or information.

5》 uncomfortably humid or airless.

6》 Phonetics another term for high (sense 7).

adverb so as to be very near; with very little space between.

noun

1》 Brit. a residential street without through access.

2》 Brit. the precinct surrounding a cathedral.

3》 Scottish an entry from the street to a common stairway or to a court at the back of a building.

Phrases

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.

Derivatives

closely adverb

closeness noun

closish adjective

Origin

ME: from OFr. clos, from L. clausum 'enclosure' and clausus 'closed' (past participle of claudere).

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close² [kləʊz]

verb

1》 move so as to cover an opening.

2》 (also close something up) bring two parts of (something) together.

    ↘make or become narrower or blocked: she felt her throat close up.

3》 (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.

4》 (close around/over) encircle and hold.

5》 bring or come to an end.

    ↘finish speaking or writing.

    ↘satisfactorily conclude (a business transaction).

6》 (often close down/up) (of a business or other organization) cease to be open to the public or in operation.

7》 make (an electric circuit) continuous.

noun

1》 the end of an event or of a period of time or activity: the day drew to a close.

2》 the shutting of a door.

Derivatives

closable adjective

closer noun

closing adjective

Origin

ME: from OFr. clos-, stem of clore, from L. claudere 'to shut'.