CLOSE


Meaning of CLOSE in English

1. adj., adv., & n.

--adj.

1. (often foll. by to) situated at only a short distance or interval.

2 a having a strong or immediate relation or connection (close friend; close relative). b in intimate friendship or association (were very close). c corresponding almost exactly (close resemblance). d fitting tightly (close cap). e (of hair etc.) short, near the surface.

3 in or almost in contact (close combat; close proximity).

4 dense, compact, with no or only slight intervals (close texture; close writing; close formation; close thicket).

5 in which competitors are almost equal (close contest; close election).

6 leaving no gaps or weaknesses, rigorous (close reasoning).

7 concentrated, searching (close examination; close attention).

8 (of air etc.) stuffy or humid.

9 closed, shut.

10 limited or restricted to certain persons etc. (close corporation; close scholarship).

11 a hidden, secret, covered. b secretive.

12 (of a danger etc.) directly threatening, narrowly avoided (that was close).

13 niggardly.

14 (of a vowel) pronounced with a relatively narrow opening of the mouth.

15 narrow, confined, contracted.

16 under prohibition.

--adv.

1. (often foll. by by, on, to, upon) at only a short distance or interval (they live close by; close to the church).

2 closely, in a close manner (shut close).

--n.

1. an enclosed space.

2 Brit. a street closed at one end.

3 Brit. the precinct of a cathedral.

4 Brit. a school playing-field or playground.

5 Sc. an entry from the street to a common stairway or to a court at the back.

Phrases and idioms:

at close quarters very close together. close-fisted niggardly. close-fitting (of a garment) fitting close to the body. close-grained without gaps between fibres etc. close harmony harmony in which the notes of the chord are close together. close-hauled (of a ship) with the sails hauled aft to sail close to the wind. close-knit tightly bound or interlocked; closely united in friendship. close-mouthed reticent. close score Mus. a score with more than one part on the same staff. close season Brit. the season when something, esp. the killing of game etc., is illegal. close-set separated only by a small interval or intervals. close shave colloq. a narrow escape. close to the wind see WIND(1). close-up

1. a photograph etc. taken at close range and showing the subject on a large scale.

2 an intimate description. go close (of a racehorse) win or almost win.

Derivatives:

closely adv. closeness n. closish adj.

Etymology: ME f. OF clos f. L clausum enclosure & clausus past part. of claudere shut 2. v. & n.

--v.

1. a tr. shut (a lid, box, door, room, house, etc.). b intr. be shut (the door closed slowly). c tr. block up.

2 a tr. & intr. bring or come to an end. b intr. finish speaking (closed with an expression of thanks). c tr. settle (a bargain etc.).

3 a intr. end the day's business. b tr. end the day's business at (a shop, office, etc.).

4 tr. & intr. bring or come closer or into contact (close ranks).

5 tr. make (an electric circuit etc.) continuous.

6 intr. (foll. by with) express agreement (with an offer, terms, or the person offering them).

7 intr. (often foll. by with) come within striking distance; grapple.

8 intr. (foll. by on) (of a hand, box, etc.) grasp or entrap.

--n.

1. a conclusion, an end.

2 Mus. a cadence.

Phrases and idioms:

close down

1. (of a shop, factory, etc.) discontinue business, esp. permanently.

2 Brit. (of a broadcasting station) end transmission esp. until the next day. close one's eyes 1 (foll. by to) pay no attention.

2 die.

close in

1. enclose.

2 come nearer.

3 (of days) get successively shorter with the approach of the winter solstice. close out US discontinue, terminate, dispose of (a business).

close up

1. (often foll. by to) move closer.

2 shut, esp. temporarily.

3 block up.

4 (of an aperture) grow smaller.

5 coalesce. closing-time the time at which a public house, shop, etc., ends business.

Derivatives:

closable adj. closer n.

Etymology: ME f. OF clos- stem of clore f. L claudere shut

Oxford English vocab.      Оксфордский английский словарь.