v.tr.
1. (also absol.; foll. by on) stop (a mortgage) from being redeemable or (a mortgager) from redeeming, esp. as a result of defaults in payment.
2 exclude, prevent.
3 shut out; bar.
Derivatives:
foreclosure n.
Etymology: ME f. OF forclos past part. of forclore f. for- out f. L foras + CLOSE(2)