NEAR


Meaning of NEAR in English

I. ˈnir adverb

Etymology: Middle English ner, partly from ner nearer, from Old English nēar, comparative of nēah nigh; partly from Old Norse nær nearer, comparative of nā- nigh — more at nigh

Date: 13th century

1. : at, within, or to a short distance or time

sunset was drawing near

2. : almost , nearly

was near dead

3. : in a close or intimate manner : closely

near related

4. archaic : in a frugal manner

II. preposition

Date: 13th century

: close to

beaches near the city

seemed to be near death

III. adjective

Date: 14th century

1.

a. : not far distant in time, place, or degree

in the near future

b. : almost happening : narrowly missed or avoided

a near win in the primary

a near midair collision

c. : nearly not happening

a near escape

2. : closely related or intimately associated

her near est and dearest friend

3.

a. : being the closer of two

the near side

b. : being the left-hand one of a pair

the near wheel of a cart

4. : direct , short

the near est road

5. : stingy , closefisted

6.

a. : closely resembling the standard or typical

a near desert

b. : approximating the genuine

near silk

• near·ness noun

IV. verb

Date: 1513

: approach

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.