/shut/ , v. , shut, shutting , adj. , n.
v.t.
1. to put (a door, cover, etc.) in position to close or obstruct.
2. to close the doors of (often fol. by up ): to shut up a shop for the night.
3. to close (something) by bringing together or folding its parts: Shut your book. Shut the window!
4. to confine; enclose: to shut a bird into a cage.
5. to bar; exclude: They shut him from their circle.
6. to cause (a business, factory, store, etc.) to end or suspend operations: He shut his store, sold his house, and moved away. We're shutting the office for two weeks in June.
7. to bolt; bar.
v.i.
8. to become shut or closed; close.
9. shut down ,
a. to settle over so as to envelop or darken: The fog shut down rapidly.
b. to close, esp. temporarily, as a factory; cease manufacturing or business operations.
c. Also, shut down on or upon . Informal. to hinder; check; stop.
10. shut in ,
a. to enclose.
b. to confine, as from illness: She broke her leg in a fall and has been shut in for several weeks.
11. shut off ,
a. to stop the passage of (water, traffic, electricity, etc.); close off.
b. to isolate; separate: an outpost almost completely shut off from civilization.
12. shut out ,
a. to keep from entering; exclude.
b. to hide from view.
c. to prevent (an opponent or opposing team) from scoring, as in a game of baseball.
13. shut up ,
a. to imprison; confine.
b. to close entirely.
c. to stop talking; become silent: I thought the neighbors would never shut up and let me sleep.
d. to stop (someone) from talking; silence.
adj.
14. closed; fastened up: a shut door.
15. Phonet. checked.
16. shut of , Informal. free of; rid of: He wished he were shut of all his debts.
n.
17. the act or time of shutting or closing.
18. the line where two pieces of welded metal are united.
[ bef. 1000; ME schutten, OE scyttan to bolt (a door); akin to SHOOT ]
Syn. 1. See close. 4. jail, imprison, cage. 5. prohibit.
Ant. 1. open.