/ ʃʌt; NAmE / verb , adjective
■ verb ( shut·ting , shut , shut )
1.
to make sth close; to become closed :
[ vn ]
Philip went into his room and shut the door behind him.
I can't shut my suitcase—it's too full.
She shut her eyes and fell asleep immediately.
He shut his book and looked up.
[ v ]
The window won't shut
The doors open and shut automatically.
2.
( BrE ) when a shop / store, restaurant, etc. shuts or when sb shuts it, it stops being open for business and you cannot go into it :
[ v ]
The bank shuts at 4.
[also vn ] ➡ note at close (I)
•
IDIOMS
- shut your mouth / face!
- shut up shop
—more at door , ear , eye noun , mouth noun
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- shut sb/sth away
- shut yourself away
- shut down
- shut sth down
- shut sb / yourself in (sth)
- shut sth in sth
- shut off
- shut sth off
- shut yourself off (from sth)
- shut sb/sth off from sth
- shut sb/sth out (of sth)
- shut up
- shut sb up
- shut sth up
- shut sb/sth up (in sth)
■ adjective [ not before noun ]
1.
not open
SYN closed :
The door was shut.
She slammed the door shut.
Keep your eyes shut.
2.
( BrE ) not open for business
SYN closed :
Unfortunately the bank is shut now.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English scyttan put (a bolt) in position to hold fast , of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch schutten shut up, obstruct, also to shoot .