close

1 of 5

verb

ˈklōz

closed; closing

transitive verb

: to move so as to bar passage through something

Close the gate.

: to block against entry or passage

close a street

: to deny access to

The city closed the beach.

: to suspend or stop the operations of

close school

—often used with down

They closed down the factory.

: screen, exclude

close a view

: to bring to an end or period

close an account

closed his football career with an outstanding big bowl performance

Investigators closed the case after concluding that his death was accidental.

: to terminate access to (a computer file or program)

Remember to save the file before closing it.

: to conclude discussion or negotiation about

The question is closed.

also : to consummate (see consummate entry 2 sense 2) by performing something previously agreed

close a transfer of real estate title

: to bring or bind together the parts or edges of

a closed book

: to reduce to nil

closed the distance to the lead racer

: to fill up (something, such as an opening)

close the cracks with plaster of paris

: to make complete by circling or enveloping or by making continuous

close a circuit

archaic : enclose, contain

intransitive verb

: to contract, fold, swing, or slide so as to leave no opening

The door closed quietly.

: to cease operation

The factory closed down.

The stores close at 9 p.m.

: to come together : meet

The jaws of the vise closed.

: to draw the free foot up to the supporting foot in dancing

: to come to an end or period

The services closed with a short prayer.

: to enter into or complete an agreement

close on a deal

: to reduce a gap

closed to within two points

: to draw near

The ship was closing with the island.

: to engage in a struggle at close quarters : grapple

close with the enemy

closable adjective

or closeable

ˈklō-zə-bəl How to pronounce close (audio)

2 of 5

adjective

ˈklōs

closer; closest

: being near in time, space, effect, or degree

at close range

close to my birthday

close to the speed of sound

: intimate, familiar

close friends

: strict, rigorous

keep close watch

: very precise and attentive to details

a close reading

a close study

: marked by fidelity to an original

a close copy of an old master

: terse, compact

… his exact, close, sober classical style …—

Edmund Wilson

: decided or won by a narrow margin

a close baseball game

: very short or near to the surface

a close haircut

: fitting tightly or exactly

a close fit

: confined or carefully guarded

close quarters

close arrest

: having little space between items or units

a close weave

a close grain

: hot and stuffy

a room with an uncomfortably close atmosphere

: difficult to obtain

Money is close.

: not generous in giving or spending : tight

… a close buyer and a good marketer.—

W. A. White

: having no openings : closed

: restricted to a privileged class

a close scholarship

: secluded, secret

: secretive

She could tell us something if she would …. But she was as close as wax.—

A. Conan Doyle

of a vowel : high sense 13

: formed with the tongue in a higher position than for the other vowel of a pair

Italian has a close and an open e.

of punctuation : characterized by liberal use especially of commas

closely adverb

closeness noun

3 of 5

adverb

ˈklōs

: in a close position or manner

Don't drive so close to the car in front of you.

Look close and tell me what you see.

They sat close together on the bench.

4 of 5

noun (1)

ˈklōz

: a coming or bringing to a conclusion

at the close of the party

: a conclusion or end in time or existence : cessation

The decade drew to a close.

: the concluding passage (as of a speech or play)

At the close of his speech, he thanked his supporters.

: the conclusion of a musical strain or period : cadence

Following the close of the symphony, the audience rose and applauded.

: the movement of the free foot in dancing toward or into contact with the supporting foot

archaic : a hostile encounter

5 of 5

noun (2)

ˈklōs

U.S. also

ˈklōz

chiefly British : the precinct (see precinct sense 2a) of a cathedral

: an enclosed area

chiefly British

: a road closed at one end

: a narrow passage leading from a street to a court and the houses within or to the common stairway of tenements

Phrases

close one's doors

: to refuse admission

The nation closed its doors to immigrants.

: to go out of business

The furniture store closed its doors last week.

close one's eyes to

: to ignore deliberately

Officials closed their eyes to allegations of child abuse at the day care center.

close ranks

: to unite in a concerted stand especially to meet a challenge

The family closed ranks to protect one of their own.

close the door

: to be uncompromisingly obstructive

closed the door to further negotiation

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 bone

: within a sensitive or personal area

The criticism cut close to the bone.

close to the vest

: in a reserved or cautious manner

She tends to keep her opinions close to the vest.

Synonyms

Verb

make [chiefly dialect]
shut
steek [chiefly Scottish]

Adjective

compact
crowded
dense
jam-packed
packed
serried
thick
tight

Adverb

around
by
hard
in
near
nearby
nigh

Noun (1)

arrest
arrestment
cease
cessation
check
closedown
closure
conclusion
cutoff
discontinuance
discontinuation
end
ending
expiration
finish
halt
lapse
offset
shutdown
shutoff
stay
stop
stoppage
surcease
termination

Noun (2)

court
courtyard
enclosure
inclosure
patio
quad
quadrangle
yard

See all Synonyms & Antonyms

Example Sentences

Verb We had better close the windows; it looks like it's going to rain. I forgot to close the gate. She was having trouble closing the drawer. Close the lid on the box tightly. The door opened and closed so quietly that I didn't notice he had come in the room. The box's lid closed with a bang. Remember to close the box of cereal when you're done. Please close your books and put them under your desks. Close your eyes and go to sleep. I closed my fists and got ready to fight. Adjective We're not there yet, but we're getting close. We stood close together to stay warm. Christmas is getting closer and will soon be here. Their daughters are close in age. close in size and shape Adverb Don't drive so close to the car in front of you. He told me to stay close as we walked through the crowd. The time for a decision is drawing closer. My teammate came in third, and I finished close behind. They sat close together at the dinner table. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The zoo fell on hard times when it was forced to close for a month in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. —

Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2023 Finally, in late 2021, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Martin Suuberg issued a strong statement saying the state would not approve any more expansions, which would force the landfill to close within a few years. —

Globe Columnist, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Feb. 2023 This left the company vulnerable following the Covid-19 crisis that forced its theatres to close. —

Royston Wild, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023 Independent grocers that were once backbones of their communities have been forced to close, leaving food deserts behind. —

WSJ, 12 Feb. 2023 In 2020, Russia, a permanent member of the council, forced all but one aid border crossing to close. —

Claire Parker, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2023 That set off an uproar that eventually forced the plant to close amid threats of federal criminal prosecution in 2015. —

Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2023 The search for a man accused of shooting two officers in Maryland ended with his arrest Friday, bringing relief to a community forced to close schools and shelter in place during a 39-hour manhunt for the suspect. —

Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 10 Feb. 2023 In 2020, Russia, a permanent member of the council, forced all but one aid border crossing to close. —

Anchorage Daily News, 10 Feb. 2023

Adjective

Force captain Ann-Sophie Bettez broke the shutout bid with her 11th goal of the season early in the third, but that’s as close as Montreal would come. —

BostonGlobe.com, 19 Feb. 2023 The game was close throughout the first three quarters; the Huskies entered the final quarter leading 44-39. —

Aaron Bracy, ajc, 18 Feb. 2023 The Verdict Both models were neck-and-neck during our testing, with their starting price, functionality, and question-answering capabilities being very close. —

Matt Crisara, Popular Mechanics, 17 Feb. 2023 Talley's possessions included several artworks and photographs, from modern art greats like former boss and friend Andy Warhol and close friends and mentors, including Diana Vreeland and Lagerfeld. —

Elise Brisco, USA TODAY, 16 Feb. 2023 What happens in the preceding scene is very important: Raju’s just realized that Bheem, his close friend, is the wanted man that he’s been chasing after. —

Simon Abrams, The New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2023 The attentiveness and enthusiasm of the intimate crowd, paired with Yearwood’s innately conversational performance style, made the concert feel like an evening with a close friend (who happens to be a phenomenal vocalist). —

Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 16 Feb. 2023 Still others suggest a parent sleep in the nursery for a few nights so baby knows an adult is still close. —

Good Housekeeping, 15 Feb. 2023 The contest wasn't close -- Sanders captured 63% of the vote compared with Jones' 35.2% share, but Jones outperformed other Democratic candidates running for constitutional offices. —

Alex Thomas, Arkansas Online, 13 Feb. 2023 See More

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French clos-, stem of clore, from Latin claudere to shut, close; perhaps akin to Greek kleiein to close — more at clavicle

Adjective

Middle English clos, from Anglo-French, from Latin clausus, past participle of claudere — see close entry 1

Noun (2)

Middle English clos, literally, enclosure, from Anglo-French clos, from Latin clausum, from neuter of clausus, past participle

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 12

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing close

Kids Definition

1 of 5 verb

ˈklōz

closed; closing

: to move so as to prevent passage through something

close the gate

: to block against passage

close a street

: to stop the operations of

close school early

—often used with down

: to bring or come to an end or conclusion

close a deal

the meeting closed with a song

close the computer program

: to bring together the parts or edges of

a closed fist

close the book

: to draw near

the second-place runner was closing fast

: to engage in a struggle at close quarters

close with the enemy

closer noun

2 of 5 noun

ˈklōz

: the point at which something ends

3 of 5 noun

ˈklōs

: an enclosed area

4 of 5 adjective

ˈklōs

closer; closest

: having no openings : closed

: hidden from sight

: not open or frank : secretive

: rigorous sense 1

keep close watch

: hot and stuffy

: not generous : stingy

close with money

: having little space between items or units

flying in close formation

: fitting tightly or exactly

: very short or near the surface

a close haircut

: being near in time, space, effect, or degree

: having a strong liking each one for the other

a close friend

: very precise and attentive to details

close measurements

a close observer

: decided by a narrow margin

a close race

closely adverb

closeness noun

5 of 5 adverb

ˈklōs

: in a close position or manner

Legal Definition

1 of 2 verb

closed; closing

transitive verb

: to bring to an end or to a state of completion

closed the case

close an estate by liquidating its assets

closing his account

: to conclude discussion or negotiation about

also : to bring to completion by performing something previously agreed

closing a merger

close the property sale

intransitive verb

: to enter into or complete an agreement (as for the sale of real estate)

they closed on the house

: to come to an end or to a state of completion

after the class closes, the trust shall continue…until the death of the last surviving member of the class—

Louisiana Revised Statutes

2 of 2 noun

: an enclosed area

break another's close

单词	close ranks
释义	close 1 of 5 verb ˈklōz closed; closing transitive verb 1 a : to move so as to bar passage through something Close the gate. b : to block against entry or passage close a street c : to deny access to The city closed the beach. d : to suspend or stop the operations of close school —often used with down They closed down the factory. e : screen, exclude close a view 2 a : to bring to an end or period close an account closed his football career with an outstanding big bowl performance Investigators closed the case after concluding that his death was accidental. b : to terminate access to (a computer file or program) Remember to save the file before closing it. c : to conclude discussion or negotiation about The question is closed. also : to consummate (see consummate entry 2 sense 2) by performing something previously agreed close a transfer of real estate title 3 a : to bring or bind together the parts or edges of a closed book b : to reduce to nil closed the distance to the lead racer c : to fill up (something, such as an opening) close the cracks with plaster of paris d : to make complete by circling or enveloping or by making continuous close a circuit 4 archaic : enclose, contain intransitive verb 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 close at 9 p.m. 2 a : to come together : meet The jaws of the vise closed. b : to draw the free foot up to the supporting foot in dancing 3 : to come to an end or period The services closed with a short prayer. 4 : to enter into or complete an agreement close on a deal 5 : to reduce a gap closed to within two points 6 a : to draw near The ship was closing with the island. b : to engage in a struggle at close quarters : grapple close with the enemy closable adjective or closeable ˈklō-zə-bəl close 2 of 5 adjective ˈklōs closer; closest 1 : being near in time, space, effect, or degree at close range close to my birthday close to the speed of sound 2 : intimate, familiar close friends 3 : strict, rigorous keep close watch 4 a : very precise and attentive to details a close reading a close study b : marked by fidelity to an original a close copy of an old master c : terse, compact … his exact, close, sober classical style …—Edmund Wilson 5 : decided or won by a narrow margin a close baseball game 6 a : very short or near to the surface a close haircut b : fitting tightly or exactly a close fit 7 : confined or carefully guarded close quarters close arrest 8 : having little space between items or units a close weave a close grain 9 : hot and stuffy a room with an uncomfortably close atmosphere 10 : difficult to obtain Money is close. 11 : not generous in giving or spending : tight … a close buyer and a good marketer.—W. A. White 12 : having no openings : closed 13 : restricted to a privileged class a close scholarship 14 a : secluded, secret b : secretive She could tell us something if she would …. But she was as close as wax.—A. Conan Doyle 15 a of a vowel : high sense 13 b : formed with the tongue in a higher position than for the other vowel of a pair Italian has a close and an open e. 16 of punctuation : characterized by liberal use especially of commas closely adverb closeness noun close 3 of 5 adverb ˈklōs : in a close position or manner Don't drive so close to the car in front of you. Look close and tell me what you see. They sat close together on the bench. close 4 of 5 noun (1) ˈklōz 1 a : a coming or bringing to a conclusion at the close of the party b : a conclusion or end in time or existence : cessation The decade drew to a close. c : the concluding passage (as of a speech or play) At the close of his speech, he thanked his supporters. 2 : the conclusion of a musical strain or period : cadence Following the close of the symphony, the audience rose and applauded. 3 : the movement of the free foot in dancing toward or into contact with the supporting foot 4 archaic : a hostile encounter close 5 of 5 noun (2) ˈklōs U.S. also ˈklōz 1 a chiefly British : the precinct (see precinct sense 2a) of a cathedral b : an enclosed area 2 chiefly British a : a road closed at one end b : a narrow passage leading from a street to a court and the houses within or to the common stairway of tenements Phrases close one's doors 1 : to refuse admission The nation closed its doors to immigrants. 2 : to go out of business The furniture store closed its doors last week. close one's eyes to : to ignore deliberately Officials closed their eyes to allegations of child abuse at the day care center. close ranks : to unite in a concerted stand especially to meet a challenge The family closed ranks to protect one of their own. close the door : to be uncompromisingly obstructive closed the door to further negotiation 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 bone : within a sensitive or personal area The criticism cut close to the bone. close to the vest : in a reserved or cautious manner She tends to keep her opinions close to the vest. Synonyms Verb make [chiefly dialect] shut steek [chiefly Scottish] Adjective compact crowded dense jam-packed packed serried thick tight Adverb around by hard in near nearby nigh Noun (1) arrest arrestment cease cessation check closedown closure conclusion cutoff discontinuance discontinuation end ending expiration finish halt lapse offset shutdown shutoff stay stop stoppage surcease termination Noun (2) court courtyard enclosure inclosure patio quad quadrangle yard See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Verb We had better close the windows; it looks like it's going to rain. I forgot to close the gate. She was having trouble closing the drawer. Close the lid on the box tightly. The door opened and closed so quietly that I didn't notice he had come in the room. The box's lid closed with a bang. Remember to close the box of cereal when you're done. Please close your books and put them under your desks. Close your eyes and go to sleep. I closed my fists and got ready to fight. Adjective We're not there yet, but we're getting close. We stood close together to stay warm. Christmas is getting closer and will soon be here. Their daughters are close in age. close in size and shape Adverb Don't drive so close to the car in front of you. He told me to stay close as we walked through the crowd. The time for a decision is drawing closer. My teammate came in third, and I finished close behind. They sat close together at the dinner table. See More Recent Examples on the Web Verb The zoo fell on hard times when it was forced to close for a month in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. —Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2023 Finally, in late 2021, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Martin Suuberg issued a strong statement saying the state would not approve any more expansions, which would force the landfill to close within a few years. —Globe Columnist, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Feb. 2023 This left the company vulnerable following the Covid-19 crisis that forced its theatres to close. —Royston Wild, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023 Independent grocers that were once backbones of their communities have been forced to close, leaving food deserts behind. —WSJ, 12 Feb. 2023 In 2020, Russia, a permanent member of the council, forced all but one aid border crossing to close. —Claire Parker, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2023 That set off an uproar that eventually forced the plant to close amid threats of federal criminal prosecution in 2015. —Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2023 The search for a man accused of shooting two officers in Maryland ended with his arrest Friday, bringing relief to a community forced to close schools and shelter in place during a 39-hour manhunt for the suspect. —Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 10 Feb. 2023 In 2020, Russia, a permanent member of the council, forced all but one aid border crossing to close. —Anchorage Daily News, 10 Feb. 2023 Adjective Force captain Ann-Sophie Bettez broke the shutout bid with her 11th goal of the season early in the third, but that’s as close as Montreal would come. —BostonGlobe.com, 19 Feb. 2023 The game was close throughout the first three quarters; the Huskies entered the final quarter leading 44-39. —Aaron Bracy, ajc, 18 Feb. 2023 The Verdict Both models were neck-and-neck during our testing, with their starting price, functionality, and question-answering capabilities being very close. —Matt Crisara, Popular Mechanics, 17 Feb. 2023 Talley's possessions included several artworks and photographs, from modern art greats like former boss and friend Andy Warhol and close friends and mentors, including Diana Vreeland and Lagerfeld. —Elise Brisco, USA TODAY, 16 Feb. 2023 What happens in the preceding scene is very important: Raju’s just realized that Bheem, his close friend, is the wanted man that he’s been chasing after. —Simon Abrams, The New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2023 The attentiveness and enthusiasm of the intimate crowd, paired with Yearwood’s innately conversational performance style, made the concert feel like an evening with a close friend (who happens to be a phenomenal vocalist). —Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 16 Feb. 2023 Still others suggest a parent sleep in the nursery for a few nights so baby knows an adult is still close. —Good Housekeeping, 15 Feb. 2023 The contest wasn't close -- Sanders captured 63% of the vote compared with Jones' 35.2% share, but Jones outperformed other Democratic candidates running for constitutional offices. —Alex Thomas, Arkansas Online, 13 Feb. 2023 See More Word History Etymology Verb and Noun (1) Middle English, from Anglo-French clos-, stem of clore, from Latin claudere to shut, close; perhaps akin to Greek kleiein to close — more at clavicle Adjective Middle English clos, from Anglo-French, from Latin clausus, past participle of claudere — see close entry 1 Noun (2) Middle English clos, literally, enclosure, from Anglo-French clos, from Latin clausum, from neuter of clausus, past participle First Known Use Verb 13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a Adjective 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 12 Adverb 15th century, in the meaning defined above Noun (1) 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Noun (2) 13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b Phrases Containing close at close quarters close/tight finish at close range close/dear/near to one's heart close at hand close, but no cigar close/seal the deal close/hard/hot on someone's or something's heels close by close corporation close call close by (someone or something) close-fitting close in close-hauled close-knit close in on close one's eyes to close off close one close order close resemblance close out close-set close shave close the gap close to close the door on close to someone's heart close to the edge close to the mark close to the vest close-up close up shop come/follow close/hard/hot on something's heels complimentary close come close hold/keep/play (something) close to one's chest hold/keep/play (something) close to the vest in close proximity keep a close watch over keep a close watch/eye perilously close to play/hold/keep one's cards close to the/one's chest/vest too close to call too close for comfort up close at/in close quarters close-cropped close-grained close on in close quarters in close proximity to close but no cigar close quarters cut it close come/follow close/hard/hot on the heels of (something) keep a close check on sail close to the wind close to tears draw to a close in hot/close pursuit close-minded letters close close to the wind close to home close the door lives close to the edge close ranks close one's doors close to the bone See More at close quarters close/tight finish at close range close/dear/near to one's heart close at hand close, but no cigar close/seal the deal close/hard/hot on someone's or something's heels close by close corporation close call close by (someone or something) close-fitting close in close-hauled close-knit close in on close one's eyes to close off close one close order close resemblance close out close-set close shave close the gap close to close the door on close to someone's heart close to the edge close to the mark close to the vest close-up close up shop come/follow close/hard/hot on something's heels complimentary close come close hold/keep/play (something) close to one's chest hold/keep/play (something) close to the vest in close proximity keep a close watch over keep a close watch/eye perilously close to play/hold/keep one's cards close to the/one's chest/vest too close to call too close for comfort up close at/in close quarters close-cropped close-grained close on in close quarters in close proximity to close but no cigar close quarters cut it close come/follow close/hard/hot on the heels of (something) keep a close check on sail close to the wind close to tears draw to a close in hot/close pursuit close-minded letters close close to the wind close to home close the door lives close to the edge close ranks close one's doors close to the bone See More Kids Definition close 1 of 5 verb ˈklōz closed; closing 1 a : to move so as to prevent passage through something close the gate b : to block against passage close a street 2 : to stop the operations of close school early —often used with down 3 : to bring or come to an end or conclusion close a deal the meeting closed with a song close the computer program 4 : to bring together the parts or edges of a closed fist close the book 5 a : to draw near the second-place runner was closing fast b : to engage in a struggle at close quarters close with the enemy closer noun close 2 of 5 noun ˈklōz : the point at which something ends close 3 of 5 noun ˈklōs : an enclosed area close 4 of 5 adjective ˈklōs closer; closest 1 : having no openings : closed 2 a : hidden from sight b : not open or frank : secretive 3 : rigorous sense 1 keep close watch 4 : hot and stuffy 5 : not generous : stingy close with money 6 : having little space between items or units flying in close formation 7 : fitting tightly or exactly 8 : very short or near the surface a close haircut 9 : being near in time, space, effect, or degree 10 : having a strong liking each one for the other a close friend 11 : very precise and attentive to details close measurements a close observer 12 : decided by a narrow margin a close race closely adverb closeness noun close 5 of 5 adverb ˈklōs : in a close position or manner Legal Definition close 1 of 2 verb closed; closing transitive verb 1 : to bring to an end or to a state of completion closed the case close an estate by liquidating its assets closing his account 2 : to conclude discussion or negotiation about also : to bring to completion by performing something previously agreed closing a merger close the property sale intransitive verb 1 : to enter into or complete an agreement (as for the sale of real estate) they closed on the house 2 : to come to an end or to a state of completion after the class closes, the trust shall continue…until the death of the last surviving member of the class—Louisiana Revised Statutes close 2 of 2 noun : an enclosed area break another's close Biographical Definition Close biographical name ˈklōz commonly ˈklōs Chuck 1940– Charles Thomas Close American painter close ranks phrase as in cooperate to form or enter into an association that furthers the interests of its members Members of the community closed ranks to rally for better schools. Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance cooperate unite collaborate pull together hang together federate merge ally confederate club league band (together) organize cohere associate consolidate coalesce gang up group converge join conjoin team (up) affiliate link combine incorporate cabal amalgamate unionize tie knot conglomerate wed Antonyms & Near Antonyms break up part separate split disband divorce fall out dissolve segregate sever detach disengage alienate disunite sunder estrange See More
随便看	reporter reporters reporting reporting back reporting out reporting to reportings reportorial reportorially reports reports back reports out reports to repos reposal reposals repose reposed reposeful reposefully reposefulness reposefulnesses reposers reposes reposing

close

verb

adjective

adverb

noun (1)

noun (2)

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing close

Kids Definition

Legal Definition

Biographical Definition

biographical name

phrase