n. & v.
--n.
1. a small or private room.
2 a cupboard or recess.
3 water-closet.
4 (attrib.) secret, covert (closet homosexual).
--v.tr. (closeted, closeting) shut away, esp. in private conference or study.
Phrases and idioms:
Clerk of the Closet (in the UK) the sovereign's principal chaplain. closet play a play to be read rather than acted.
Etymology: ME f. OF, dimin. of clos: see CLOSE(1)