close Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the temporal end; the concluding time
    finish; last; finis; finale; stopping point; conclusion.
    • the stopping point of each round was signaled by a bell
    • the market was up at the finish
    • they were playing better at the close of the season
  2. noun the last section of a communication
    closing; ending; end; conclusion.
    • in conclusion I want to say...
  3. noun the concluding part of any performance
    finis; finale; closing curtain.
  4. verb move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
    shut.
    • Close the door
    • shut the window
  5. verb become closed
    shut.
    • The windows closed with a loud bang
  6. verb cease to operate or cause to cease operating
    shut down; close up; close down; fold.
    • The owners decided to move and to close the factory
    • My business closes every night at 8 P.M.
    • close up the shop
  7. verb finish or terminate (meetings, speeches, etc.)
    • The meeting was closed with a charge by the chairman of the board
  8. verb come to a close
    conclude.
    • The concert closed with a nocturne by Chopin
  9. verb complete a business deal, negotiation, or an agreement
    • We closed on the house on Friday
    • They closed the deal on the building
  10. verb be priced or listed when trading stops
    • The stock market closed high this Friday
    • My new stocks closed at $59 last night
  11. verb engage at close quarters
    • close with the enemy
  12. verb cause a window or an application to disappear on a computer desktop
  13. verb change one's body stance so that the forward shoulder and foot are closer to the intended point of impact
  14. verb come together, as if in an embrace
    come together.
    • Her arms closed around her long lost relative
  15. verb draw near
    • The probe closed with the space station
  16. verb bring together all the elements or parts of
    • Management closed ranks
  17. verb bar access to
    • Due to the accident, the road had to be closed for several hours
  18. verb fill or stop up
    fill up.
    • Can you close the cracks with caulking?
  19. verb unite or bring into contact or bring together the edges of
    close up.
    • close the circuit
    • close a wound
    • close a book
    • close up an umbrella
  20. verb finish a game in baseball by protecting a lead
    • The relief pitcher closed with two runs in the second inning
  21. adjective at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
    • close to noon
    • how close are we to town?
    • a close formation of ships
  22. adjective close in relevance or relationship
    • a close family
    • we are all...in close sympathy with...
    • close kin
    • a close resemblance
  23. adjective not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances
    near; nigh.
    • near neighbors
    • in the near future
    • they are near equals
    • his nearest approach to success
    • a very near thing
    • a near hit by the bomb
    • she was near tears
    • she was close to tears
    • had a close call
  24. adjective satellite rigorously attentive; strict and thorough
    • close supervision
    • paid close attention
    • a close study
    • kept a close watch on expenditures
  25. adjective satellite marked by fidelity to an original
    faithful.
    • a close translation
    • a faithful copy of the portrait
    • a faithful rendering of the observed facts
  26. adjective satellite (of a contest or contestants) evenly matched
    tight.
    • a close contest
    • a close election
    • a tight game
  27. adjective satellite crowded
    confining.
    • close quarters
  28. adjective satellite lacking fresh air
    airless; unaired; stuffy.
    • a dusty airless attic
    • the dreadfully close atmosphere
    • hot and stuffy and the air was blue with smoke
  29. adjective satellite of textiles
    tight.
    • a close weave
    • smooth percale with a very tight weave
  30. adjective satellite strictly confined or guarded
    • kept under close custody
  31. adjective satellite confined to specific persons
    • a close secret
  32. adjective satellite fitting closely but comfortably
    snug; close-fitting.
    • a close fit
  33. adjective satellite used of hair or haircuts
    • a close military haircut
  34. adjective satellite giving or spending with reluctance
    near; skinny; cheeseparing; penny-pinching.
    • our cheeseparing administration
    • very close (or near) with his money
    • a penny-pinching miserly old man
  35. adjective satellite inclined to secrecy or reticence about divulging information
    tightlipped; closelipped; closemouthed; secretive.
    • although they knew her whereabouts her friends kept close about it
  36. adverb near in time or place or relationship
    near; nigh.
    • as the wedding day drew near
    • stood near the door
    • don't shoot until they come near
    • getting near to the true explanation
    • her mother is always near
    • The end draws nigh
    • the bullet didn't come close
    • don't get too close to the fire
  37. adverb in an attentive manner
    closely; tight.
    • he remained close on his guard

WordNet

Close transitive verb
Etymology
From OF. & F. clos, p. p. of clore to close, fr. L. claudere; akin to G. schliessen to shut, and to E. clot, cloister, clavicle, conclude, sluice. Cf. Clause, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Closed ; present participle & verbal noun Closing
Definitions
  1. To stop, or fill up, as an opening; to shut; as, to close the eyes; to close a door.
  2. To bring together the parts of; to consolidate; as, to close the ranks of an army; -- often used with up.
  3. To bring to an end or period; to conclude; to complete; to finish; to end; to consummate; as, to close a bargain; to close a course of instruction.
    One frugal supper did our studies close. Dryden.
  4. To come or gather around; to inclose; to encompass; to confine.
    The depth closed me round about. Jonah ii. 5.
    But now thou dost thyself immure and close In some one corner of a feeble heart. Herbert.
Close intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To come together; to unite or coalesce, as the parts of a wound, or parts separated.
    What deep wounds ever closed without a scar? Byron.
  2. To end, terminate, or come to a period; as, the debate closed at six o'clock.
  3. To grapple; to engange in hand-to-hand fight.
    They boldly closed in a hand-to-hand contest. Prescott.
Close noun
Definitions
  1. The manner of shutting; the union of parts; junction. Obs.
    The doors of plank were; their close exquisite. Chapman.
  2. Conclusion; cessation; ending; end.
    His long and troubled life was drawing to a close. Macaulay.
  3. A grapple in wrestling. Bacon.
  4. (Mus.) (a) The conclusion of a strain of music; cadence. (b) A double bar marking the end.
    At every close she made, the attending throng Replied, and bore the burden of the song. Dryden.
    Syn. -- Conclusion; termination; cessation; end; ending; extremity; extreme.
Close noun
Etymology
OF. & F. clos an inclosure, fr. clos, p. p. of clore. See Close, v. t.
Definitions
  1. An inclosed place; especially, a small field or piece of land surrounded by a wall, hedge, or fence of any kind; -- specifically, the precinct of a cathedral or abbey.
    Closes surrounded by the venerable abodes of deans and canons. Macaulay.
  2. A narrow passage leading from a street to a court, and the houses within. Eng. Halliwell
  3. (Law) The interest which one may have in a piece of ground, even though it is not inclosed. Bouvier.
Close adjective
Etymology
Of. & F. clos, p. p. of clore. See Close, v. t.
Wordforms
comparative Closer ; superlative Closest
Definitions
  1. Shut fast; closed; tight; as, a close box.
    From a close bower this dainty music flowed. Dryden.
  2. Narrow; confined; as, a close alley; close quarters. "A close prison." Dickens.
  3. Oppressive; without motion or ventilation; causing a feeling of lassitude; -- said of the air, weather, etc.
    If the rooms be low-roofed, or full of windows and doors, the one maketh the air close, . . . and the other maketh it exceeding unequal. Bacon.
  4. Strictly confined; carefully quarded; as, a close prisoner.
  5. Out of the way observation; secluded; secret; hidden. "He yet kept himself close because of Saul." 1 Chron. xii. 1
    "Her close intent." Spenser.
  6. Disposed to keep secrets; secretive; reticent. "For servecy, no lady closer." Shak.
  7. Having the parts near each other; dense; solid; compact; as applied to bodies; viscous; tenacious; not volatile, as applied to liquids.
    The golden globe being put into a press, . . . the water made itself way through the pores of that very close metal. Locke.
  8. Concise; to the point; as, close reasoning. "Where the original is close no version can reach it in the same compass." Dryden.
  9. Adjoining; near; either in space; time, or thought; -- often followed by to.
    Plant the spring crocuses close to a wall. Mortimer.
    The thought of the Man of sorrows seemed a very close thing -- not a faint hearsay. G. Eliot.
  10. Short; as, to cut grass or hair close.
  11. Intimate; familiar; confidential.
    League with you I seek And mutual amity, so strait, so close, That I with you must dwell, or you with me. Milton.
  12. Nearly equal; almost evenly balanced; as, a close vote. "A close contest." Prescott.
  13. Difficult to obtain; as, money is close. Bartlett.
  14. Parsimonious; stingy. "A crusty old fellow, as close as a vise." Hawthorne.
  15. Adhering strictly to a standard or original; exact; strict; as, a close translation. Locke.
  16. Accurate; careful; precise; also, attentive; undeviating; strict; not wandering; as, a close observer.
  17. (Phon.) Uttered with a relatively contracted opening of the mouth, as certain sounds of e and o in French, Italian, and German; -- opposed to open.
Close adverb
Definitions
  1. In a close manner.
  2. Secretly; darkly. Obs.
    A wondrous vision which did close imply The course of all her fortune and posterity. Spenser.

Webster 1913