[close] vb closed ; clos.ing [ME, fr. OF clos-, stem of clore, fr. L claudere to shut, close; perh. akin to Gk kleiein to close--more at clavicle] vt (13c) 1 a: to move so as to bar passage through something "~ the gate" b: to block against entry or passage "~ a street" c: to deny access to "the city closed the beach" d: screen, exclude "~ a view" e: to suspend or stop the operations of "~ school"--often used with down
2. archaic: enclose, contain 3 a: to bring to an end or period "~ an account" b: to conclude discussion or negotiation about "the question is closed"; also: to consummate by performing something previously agreed "~ a transfer of real estate title" c: to terminate access to (a computer file)
4. a: to bring or bind together the parts or edges of "a closed book" b: to fill up (as an opening) c: to make complete by circling or enveloping or by making continuous "~ a circuit" d: to reduce to nil "closed the distance to the lead racer" ~ vi 1 a: to contract, fold, swing, or slide so as to leave no opening "the door closed quietly" b: to cease operation "the factory closed down" "the stores ~ at
9. p.m."
2. a: to draw near "the ship was closing with the island" b: to engage in a struggle at close quarters: grapple "~ with the enemy" 3 a: to come together: meet b: to draw the free foot up to the supporting foot in dancing
4: to enter into or complete an agreement
5: to come to an end or period
6: to reduce a gap "closed to within two points" -- clos.able or close.able adj -- clos.er n -- close one's doors 1: to refuse admission "the nation closed its doors to immigrants"
2: to go out of business -- close one's eyes to : to ignore deliberately -- close ranks : to unite in a concerted stand esp. to meet a challenge -- close the door : to be uncompromisingly obstructive "closed the door to further negotiation" syn close, end, conclude, finish, complete, terminate mean to bring or come to a stopping point or limit. close usu. implies that something has been in some way open as well as unfinished "close a debate". end conveys a strong sense of finality "ended his life". conclude may imply a formal closing (as of a meeting) "the service concluded with a blessing". finish may stress completion of a final step in a process "after it is painted, the house will be finished". complete implies the removal of all deficiencies or a successful finishing of what has been undertaken "the resolving of this last issue completes the agreement". terminate implies the setting of a limit in time or space "your employment terminates after three months".
[2]close n (14c) 1 a: a coming or bringing to a conclusion "at the ~ of the party" b: a conclusion or end in time or existence: cessation "the decade drew to a ~" c: the concluding passage (as of a speech or play)
2: the conclusion of a musical strain or period: cadence 3 archaic: a hostile encounter
4: the movement of the free foot in dancing toward or into contact with the supporting foot [3]close n [ME clos, lit., enclosure, fr. OF clos, fr. L clausum, fr. neut. of clausus, pp.] (13c) 1 a: an enclosed area b chiefly Brit: the precinct of a cathedral
2. chiefly Brit a: a narrow passage leading from a street to a court and the houses within or to the common stairway of tenements b: a road closed at one end [4]close adj clos.er ; clos.est [ME clos, fr. MF, fr. L clausus, pp. of claudere] (14c) 1: having no openings: closed
2. a: confined or carefully guarded "~ arrest" b (1) of a vowel: high 13 (2): formed with the tongue in a higher position than for the other vowel of a pair
3: restricted to a privileged class
4. a: secluded, secret b: secretive "she could tell us something if she would ... but she was as ~ as wax --A. Conan Doyle"
5: strict, rigorous "keep ~ watch"
6: hot and stuffy 7: not generous in giving or spending: tight 8: having little space between items or units "a ~ weave"
9. a: fitting tightly or exactly b: very short or near to the surface "a ~ haircut" 10: being near in time, space, effect, or degree 11: intimate, familiar 12 a: accurate, precise "a ~ study" b: marked by fidelity to an original "a ~ copy of an old master" c: terse, compact 13: decided or won by a narrow margin "a ~ baseball game" 14: difficult to obtain "money is ~" 15 of punctuation: characterized by liberal use esp. of commas syn see stingy -- close.ly adv -- close.ness n -- close to home : within one's personal interests so that one is strongly affected "the speaker's remarks hit close to home" -- close to the vest : in a reserved or cautious manner [5]close adv (15c): in a close position or manner