Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense closes, present participle closing, past tense, past participle closed
1. verb
When you close something such as a door or lid or when it closes, it moves so that a hole, gap, or opening is covered.
If you are cold, close the window. [VERB noun]
Zacharias heard the door close. [VERB]
Keep the curtains closed. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: shut, lock, push to, fasten More Synonyms of close
2. verb
When you close something such as an open book or umbrella, you move the different parts of it together.
Slowly he closed the book. [VERB noun]
3. verb
If you close something such as a computer file or window, you give the computer an instruction to remove it from the screen.
[computing]
To close your document, press CTRL+W on your keyboard. [VERB noun]
4. verb
When you close your eyes or your eyes close, your eyelids move downwards, so that you can no longer see.
Bess closed her eyes and fell asleep. [VERB noun]
When we sneeze, our eyes close. [VERB]
5. verb
When a place closes or is closed, work or activity stops there for a short period.
Shops close only on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. [VERB]
It was Saturday; they could close the office early. [VERB noun]
Government troops closed the airport. [VERB noun]
The restaurant was closed for the night. [VERB-ed]
6. verb
If a place such as a factory, shop, or school closes, or if it is closed, all work or activity stops there permanently.
Many enterprises will be forced to close. [VERB]
If they do close the local college I'll have to go to Worcester. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: shut down, finish, cease, discontinue More Synonyms of close
Close down means the same as close1.
Minford closed down the business and went into politics. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
Many of the smaller stores have closed down. [VERBPARTICLE]
[Also VERB noun PARTICLE]
closingsingular noun
...the closing of the steelworks. [+ of]
7. verb
To close a road or border means to block it in order to prevent people from using it.
The police had to close the road to traffic. [VERB noun]
8. verb
To close a conversation, event, or matter means to bring it to an end or to complete it.
DNA tests could close the case. [VERB noun]
He needs another $30,000 to close the deal. [VERB noun]
The Prime Minister is said to now consider the matter closed. [VERB-ed]
...the closing ceremony of the National Political Conference. [VERB-ing]
Synonyms: clinch, confirm, secure, conclude More Synonyms of close
9. verb
If you close a bank account, you take all your money out of it and inform the bank that you will no longer be using the account.
He had closed his account with the bank five years earlier. [VERB noun]
10. verb
On the stock market or the currency markets, if a share price or a currency closes at a particular value, that is its value at the end of the day's business.
[business]
Dawson shares closed at 219p, up 5p. [VERB preposition/adverb]
The U.S. dollar closed higher in Tokyo today. [VERB adjective]
11. singular noun
Thecloseof a period of time or an activity is the end of it. To bring or draw something to a close means to end it.
By the close of business, they knew the campaign was a success. [+ of]
Brian's retirement brings to a close a glorious chapter in British football history.
As the year draws to a close, the story is changing.
Synonyms: end, ending, finish, conclusion More Synonyms of close
12. See also closed, closing
13. to close the door on something
14. to close your eyes to something
15. to close ranks
Phrasal verbs:
See close down
See close off
See close up
More Synonyms of close
close nearness; adjective uses
(kloʊs)
Word forms: comparative closer, superlative closest
1. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE, ADJECTIVE after verb]
If one thing or person is closeto another, there is only a very small distance between them.
Her lips were close to his head and her breath tickled his ear. [+ to]
The whales were too close; this posed an immediate problem for my photography.
The man moved closer, lowering his voice.
The tables were pushed close together so diners could talk across the aisles.
closelyadverb [ADVERB after verb, ADVERB -ed]
They crowded more closely around the stretcher.
Wherever they went they were closely followed by security men.
2. adjective
You say that people are closeto each other when they like each other very much and know each other very well.
She and Linda became very close.
As a little girl, Karan was closest to her sister Gail. [+ to]
I shared a house with a close friend from school.
I had a close relationship with my grandfather.
Synonyms: intimate, loving, friendly, familiar More Synonyms of close
closenessuncountable noun
I asked whether her closeness to her mother ever posed any problems. [+ to]
Synonyms: nearness, proximity, handiness, adjacency More Synonyms of close
Synonyms: imminence, nearness, imminentness, impendency More Synonyms of close
Synonyms: intimacy, love, devotion, confidentiality More Synonyms of close
Synonyms: carefulness, alertness, thoroughness, earnestness More Synonyms of close
Synonyms: compactness, thickness, tightness, impenetrability More Synonyms of close
Synonyms: accuracy, faithfulness, strictness, exactness More Synonyms of close
Synonyms: stuffiness, thickness, humidity, heaviness More Synonyms of close
Synonyms: secretiveness, reticence, taciturnity, uncommunicativeness More Synonyms of close
Synonyms: meanness, parsimony [formal], stinginess, miserliness More Synonyms of close
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Your close relatives are the members of your family who are most directly related to you, forexample your parents and your brothers or sisters.
...large changes such as the birth of a child or death of a close relative.
4. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun, Also v-link ADJto n]
A close ally or partner of someone knows them well and is very involved in their work.
He was once regarded as one of Mr Brown's closest political advisers.
A senior source close to the Prime Minister told us: 'Our position has not changed.' [+ to]
5. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Close contact or co-operation involves seeing or communicating with someone often.
Both nations are seeking closer links with the West.
He lived alone, keeping close contact with his three grown-up sons.
closelyadverb [ADVERB after verb]
We work closely with the careers officers in schools. [+ with]
6. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If there is a close connection or resemblance between two things, they are strongly connected or are very similar.
There is a close connection between pain and tension.
Clare's close resemblance to his elder sister invoked a deep dislike in him.
Synonyms: noticeable, marked, strong, distinct More Synonyms of close
closelyadverb [ADVERB before verb, ADVERB -ed]
...a pattern closely resembling a cross.
...fruits closely related to the orange.
7. adjective
Close inspection or observation of something is careful and thorough.
He discovered, on closer inspection, that the rocks contained gold.
All these definitions, while sounding impressive, do not stand up under close scrutiny.
Let's have a closer look.
closelyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
If you look closely at the problems in society, you'll see evidence of discrimination.
8. adjective
A close competition or election is won or seems likely to be won by only a small amount.
It is still a close contest between two leading opposition parties.
It's going to be very close.
Synonyms: even, level, neck and neck, fifty-fifty [informal] More Synonyms of close
closelyadverb [usually ADVERB -ed]
This will be a closely fought race.
9. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you are closeto something or if it is close, it is likely to happen or come soon. If you are closeto doing something, you are likely to do it soon.
She sounded close to tears. [+ to]
Drought has left more than two million people close to starvation.
A senior White House official said the agreement is close.
He's close to signing a contract. [+ to]
Synonyms: imminent, near, approaching, impending More Synonyms of close
10. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If something is close or comes closeto something else, it almost is, does, or experiences that thing.
There is a simplicity about the interior which comes close to blandness.
An airliner came close to disaster while approaching Heathrow Airport. [+ to]
Her desire was closer to passion than love.
11. adjective
If the atmosphere somewhere is close, it is unpleasantly warm with not enough air.
12.
See close by/at hand
13.
See a close call/shave/thing
14.
See keep a close eye/watch on sb/sth
15.
See close to/on
16.
See close up/to
17. See also close-up
18.
See too close to call
19. at close quarters
20. at close range
close nearness; verb uses
(kloʊz)
Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense closes, present participle closing, past tense, past participle closed
verb
If you are closingon someone or something that you are following, you are getting nearer and nearer tothem.
I was within 15 seconds of the guy in second place and closing on him. [VERB + on]
[Also VERB]
Phrasal verbs:
See close in
Close used as a road name
(kloʊs)
Word forms: plural Closes
countable noun [noun NOUN]
Close is used in the names of some streets in Britain.
...116 Dendridge Close.
close in British English1
(kləʊs)
adjective
1.
near in space or time; in proximity
2.
having the parts near together; dense
a close formation
3.
down or near to the surface; short
a close haircut
4.
near in relationship
a close relative
5.
intimate or confidential
a close friend
6.
almost equal or even
a close contest
7.
not deviating or varying greatly from a model or standard
a close resemblance
a close translation
8.
careful, strict, or searching
a close study
9.
(of a style of play in football, hockey, etc) characterized by short passes
10.
confined or enclosed
11.
shut or shut tight
12.
oppressive, heavy, or airless
a close atmosphere
13.
strictly guarded
a close prisoner
14.
neat or tight in fit
a close cap
15.
secretive or reticent
16.
miserly; not generous, esp with money
17.
(of money or credit) hard to obtain; scarce
18.
restricted as to public admission or membership
19.
hidden or secluded
20. Also: closed
restricted or prohibited as to the type of game or fish able to be taken
21. Also: closed, narrow phonetics
denoting a vowel pronounced with the lips relatively close together
adverb
22.
closely; tightly
23.
near or in proximity
24. close to the wind
Derived forms
closely (ˈclosely)
adverb
closeness (ˈcloseness)
noun
Word origin
C13: from Old French clos close, enclosed, from Latin clausus shut up, from claudere to close
close in British English2
(kləʊz)
verb
1.
to put or be put in such a position as to cover an opening; shut
the door closed behind him
2. (transitive)
to bar, obstruct, or fill up (an entrance, a hole, etc)
to close a road
3.
to bring the parts or edges of (a wound, etc) together or (of the edges of a wound,etc) to be brought together
4. (intr; foll by on, over, etc)
to take hold
his hand closed over the money
5.
to bring or be brought to an end; terminate
6.
to complete (an agreement, a deal, etc) successfully or (of an agreement, deal, etc)to be completed successfully
7.
to cease or cause to cease to render service
the shop closed at six
8. (intransitive) stock exchange
to have a value at the end of a day's trading, as specified
steels closed two points down
9.
to complete an electrical circuit
10. (transitive) nautical
to pass near
11. (transitive) archaic
to enclose or shut in
12. close one's eyes
noun
13.
the act of closing
14.
the end or conclusion
the close of the day
15.
a place of joining or meeting
16. (kləʊs) law
private property, usually enclosed by a fence, hedge, or wall
17. (kləʊs) British
a courtyard or quadrangle enclosed by buildings or an entry leading to such a courtyard
18. (kləʊs) British(capital when part of a street name)
a small quiet residential road
Hillside Close
19. British
a field
20. (kləʊs)
the precincts of a cathedral or similar building
21. (kləʊs) Scottish
the entry from the street to a tenement building
22. music another word for cadence
23. archaic or rare
an encounter in battle; grapple
Derived forms
closer (ˈcloser)
noun
close in American English1
(kloʊs)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈcloser or ˈclosest
1. denoting the fact or state of being closed or confined
a.
shut; not open
b.
enclosed or enclosing; shut in
c.
confined or confining; narrow
close quarters
d.
carefully guarded
close custody
e.
shut away from observation; hidden; secluded
f.
secretive; reserved; reticent
g.
miserly; stingy
h.
restricted, as in membership
i.
oppressively warm and stuffy
said of the weather, atmosphere, etc.
j.
not readily available
credit is close
k. Phonetics
articulated with the tongue relatively high in the mouth, near the palate
said of certain vowels, as the (ē) in eat
2. denoting nearness
a.
with little space between; with the intervening space closing or closed up; near together
b.
having parts or elements near together; compact; dense
close marching order, close weave
c.
fitting tightly
a close coat
d.
a.
down or near to the surface on which something grows; very short
a close shave
b.
not far away; nearby
a close neighbor
e.
near in interests, affection, etc.; intimate; familiar
a close friend
f.
varying little from the original or model
a close translation
g.
strict; thorough; careful
a close search
h.
compactly expressed; concise
a close description
i.
accurate; logical; precise
close reasoning
j.
nearly equal or alike
close in age
k.
difficult to resolve or uncertain in outcome
a close decision
adverbWord forms: ˈcloser or ˈclosest
3.
in a close manner
SIMILAR WORDS: faˈmiliar, ˈstingy
Idioms:
close to the wind
SYNONYMY NOTE: close1 suggests something whose parts or elements are near together with little space between[close-order drill]; dense suggests such a crowding together of elements or parts as to form an almost imperviousmass [a dense fog]; compact suggests close and firm packing, esp. within a small space, and usually implies neatnessand order in the arrangement of parts [a compact bundle]; thick, in this connection, suggests a great number of parts massed tightly together [thick fur]
OPPOSITES: open, dispersed
Derived forms
closely (ˈclosely)
adverb
closeness (ˈcloseness)
noun
close in American English2
(kloʊz)
verb transitiveWord forms: closed or ˈclosing
1.
to move (a door, lid, etc.) to a position that covers the opening; shut
2.
to bar entrance to or exit from
to close a street
3.
to fill up or stop (an opening)
4.
to draw the edges of together
to close an incision
5.
to clench (a fist)
6.
to bind together; unite
to close forces
7.
to bring to an end; finish
8.
to stop or suspend the operation of (a school, business, etc.)
9.
to complete or make final (a sale, agreement, etc.)
10.
to make stubbornly resistant
to close one's mind
verb intransitive
11.
to undergo shutting
the door closes quietly
12.
to come to an end
13.
a.
to end or suspend operations
the store closes at noon
b.
in the stock exchange, to show an indicated price level at the day's end
steel closed high
14.
to have its edges become joined together
the wound has closed
15.
to come together
16.
to take hold
her hand closed on the package
17.
to throng closely together
his friends closed about him
18.
to lessen an intervening distance; gain
closing on the leading runner
19.
to make contact or come close, as in order to begin fighting
20.
to arrive at an agreement
noun
21.
a closing or being closed
22.
the final part or conclusion; end
23. Archaic
a hand-to-hand encounter
Idioms:
close down
close in
close out
close round
close up
SYNONYMY NOTE: to close2 is to come or bring to a stop, as if by shutting something regarded as previouslyopen [nominations are now closed]; to UNRESOLVED CROSS REF means to stop some process, whether or not it has been satisfactorily completed [let's end this argument]; to conclude is to bring or come to a formal termination, often by arriving at some decision [to conclude negotiations]; to finish is to bring to a desired end that which one has set out to do, esp. by adding perfectingtouches [to finish a painting]; to complete, in its distinctive sense, is to finish by filling in the missing or defective parts[the award will complete his happiness]; to terminate is to bring or come to an end regarded as a limit or boundary [to terminate a privilege]
OPPOSITES: begin, start, commence
close in American English3
(kloʊs)
noun Chiefly British
1.
an enclosed place, as a farmyard
2.
enclosed grounds around or beside a building
a cathedral close
3.
a narrow street or passageway; also, a dead-end street
Word origin
ME clos < OFr < L clausum, orig., neut. pp. of claudere: see close2
More idioms containing
close
close to home
something is close to your heart
something is too close to call
close but no cigar
play your cards close to the vest
keep your cards close to your chest
a close call
close the book on something
close to the bone
close ranks
have a close shave
sail close to the wind
Examples of 'close' in a sentence
close
The sun highlights the part of your chart that deals with close family and emotional attachments.
The Sun (2017)
Germany has for years been one of our closest allies.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The close control is something to behold.
The Sun (2017)
The deal ends when stores close tomorrow.
The Sun (2016)
You two have been close for a long time.
The Sun (2017)
Close behind are undoing knots and knowing how to put up a tent.
The Sun (2016)
The pricing and size of the share placement was to be agreed at the close of the book build process by the banks.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But now those same manufacturers are putting up prices in Britain to bring them closer to those overseas.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Sources said the deal could be closed within weeks.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The same applies to colleagues who work in close proximity.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Work in your spare time brings you closer to a personal goal.
The Sun (2012)
What you need up top is something neat and close to the body.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We campers have no more closed the small businesses in the square than we closed the cathedral.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Two rural racecourses are to be closed at the end of this year.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He would have gone close but for two errors at the last two fences.
The Sun (2014)
The foil should be tightly closed with no gaps.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They need to learn how to close out tight games.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They think you have to lock yourself behind closed doors for a month.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We close the book with no doubt that she made the right choice.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We held a small memorial service at the house with close family and friends.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
News about twins draws a family close again.
The Sun (2008)
They sit at the front and open and close the doors.
Christopher Ross TUNNEL VISIONS: Journeys of an Underground Philosopher (2001)
The deadline for proxy votes expired at the close of business yesterday.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Many realised how close they were to their own mortality.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Two friends of mine were watching close by as he pondered his second shot.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
She had a solution close at hand.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The family want to be able to move on with their lives now this chapter has closed.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You can close the distance between friends.
The Sun (2012)
The exhibition had to be closed after four days because of the injuries caused by exuberant and energetic participation.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He said the committee would keep a close eye on Government training schemes.
The Sun (2010)
Word lists with
close
Weather descriptions
In other languages
close
British English: close /kləʊs/ ADJECTIVE
If something is close to another thing, it is near it.
Our house is close to the park.
American English: close
Arabic: قَرِيب
Brazilian Portuguese: perto
Chinese: 近的
Croatian: blizu
Czech: blízký
Danish: tæt
Dutch: dichtbij
European Spanish: cercano tiempo
Finnish: läheinen
French: proche
German: nahe
Greek: κοντινός
Italian: vicino a
Japanese: 近い
Korean: 가까운
Norwegian: nær
Polish: zamknięty
European Portuguese: perto
Romanian: apropiat
Russian: близкий
Latin American Spanish: cercano
Swedish: nära
Thai: ใกล้
Turkish: yakın
Ukrainian: близький
Vietnamese: gần
British English: close /kləʊs/ ADVERB
Close means near to something else.
He stood close beside her.
American English: close
Arabic: بِجَانِب
Brazilian Portuguese: rente
Chinese: 接近
Croatian: pokraj
Czech: blízko
Danish: tæt
Dutch: dichtbij
European Spanish: cerca tiempo
Finnish: lähellä
French: près
German: dicht
Greek: κοντά
Italian: accanto
Japanese: 近くに
Korean: 가까이에
Norwegian: tett
Polish: blisko
European Portuguese: rente
Romanian: aproape
Russian: близко
Latin American Spanish: cerca
Swedish: tätt
Thai: ชิดกัน
Turkish: yakın
Ukrainian: поруч
Vietnamese: gần
British English: close /kləʊz/ VERB
When you close something, you shut it.
Please close the door behind you.
American English: close
Arabic: يُغْلِقُ
Brazilian Portuguese: fechar
Chinese: 关闭
Croatian: zatvoriti
Czech: zavřít
Danish: lukke
Dutch: sluiten
European Spanish: cerrar
Finnish: sulkea
French: fermer
German: schließen
Greek: κλείνω
Italian: chiudere
Japanese: 閉める
Korean: 닫다
Norwegian: lukke
Polish: zamknąć
European Portuguese: fechar
Romanian: a închide
Russian: закрывать
Latin American Spanish: cerrar
Swedish: stänga
Thai: ปิด
Turkish: kapatmak
Ukrainian: зачиняти
Vietnamese: đóng
All related terms of 'close'
close in
If a group of people close in on a person or place, they come nearer and nearer to them and gradually surround them.
close off
To close something off means to separate it from other things or people so that they cannot go there.
close out
to terminate (a client's or other account ) on which the margin is inadequate or exhausted , usually by sale of securities to realize cash
close-run
If you describe something such as a race or contest as a close-run thing, you mean that it was only won by a very small amount.
close-set
(esp of the eyes) positioned close together
close up
If someone closes up a building , they shut it completely and securely, often because they are going away .
up-close
very close; in close range to
close call
a narrow escape from danger
close down
to cease or cause to cease operations
close-knit
A close-knit group of people are closely linked , do things together , and take an interest in each other.
close order
an arrangement of troops in compact units at close intervals and distances, as for marching
close ranks
to support the other members of a group totally and oppose any criticism or attacks from outside
close round
to encircle ; surround
close shave
a narrow escape
close-stool
a wooden stool containing a covered chamber pot
close with
to engage in battle with an enemy
close work
work that involves focusing your eyes on a nearby object, such as a book or computer screen , for a prolonged period of time
close combat
the act of fighting at close quarters
close company
a company under the control of its directors or fewer than five independent participants
close-cropped
Close-cropped hair or grass is cut very short.
close-fisted
very careful with money ; mean
close-fitting
Close-fitting clothes fit tightly and show the shape of your body.
close-grained
(of wood) dense or compact in texture
close harmony
a type of singing in which all the parts except the bass lie close together and are confined to the compass of a tenth
close-hauled
with the sails flat , so as to sail as close to the wind as possible
close-lipped
not talking or revealing much
close-mouthed
Someone who is close-mouthed about something does not say much about it.
close season
In football and some other sports , the close season is the period of the year when the sport is not played professionally.
close-shaven
(of hair) cut very short
a close call
a situation in which someone only just manages to avoid an accident or disaster
close neighbour
A country's neighbour is a country that is next to it.
close position
an arrangement of a chord that has the three upper voices close together
close quarters
a narrow cramped space or position
close relative
Your relatives are the members of your family.
close scrutiny
If a person or thing is under scrutiny , they are being studied or observed very carefully.
close to/on
Close to a particular amount or distance means slightly less than that amount or distance. In British English , you can also say close on a particular amount or distance.
close up/to
If you look at something close up or close to , you look at it when you are very near to it.
in close-up
If you see something in close-up , you see it in great detail in a photograph or piece of film which has been taken very near to the subject .
a close shave
If you describe a situation as a close shave , you mean that there was nearly an accident or a disaster but it was avoided .
close corporation
a small private limited company
close-out sale
a sale held to clear stock from a shop that is ceasing to operate
close punctuation
punctuation in which many commas , full stops , etc, are used
close to home
if a remark is close to home, it makes people feel uncomfortable or upset because it is about a sensitive or very personal subject
to close ranks
If you say that the members of a group close ranks , you mean that they are supporting each other only because their group is being criticized .
at close quarters
If you do something at close quarters , you do it very near to a particular person or thing.
close by/at hand
Something that is close by or close at hand is near to you.
close one's eyes
to die
close the books
to balance accounts in order to prepare a statement or report
close the window
A window is a space in the wall of a building or in the side of a vehicle, which has glass in it so that light can come in and you can see out.
medium close shot
a shot taken fairly close to the subject, but not as close as a close-up
Chinese translation of 'close'
close 1
(kləus)
adj
(= near) 近的 (jìn de)
(= devoted) 亲(親)密的 (qīnmì de)
⇒ She and Linda were very close.她和琳达很亲密。 (Tā hé Líndá hěn qīnmì.)
[relative]直系的 (zhíxì de)
⇒ the death of a close relative一位直系亲属的死亡 (yī wèi zhíxì qīnshǔ de sǐwáng)
[contact, ties]密切的 (mìqiè de)
[connection, resemblance]严(嚴)密的 (yánmì de)
⇒ He keeps in close contact with his sons.他和儿子们保持密切的联系。 (Tā hé érzimen bǎochí mìqiè de liánxì.)
⇒ There is a close connection between pain and tension.疼痛与紧张是息息相关的。 (Téngtòng yǔ jǐnzhāng shì xīxī xiāngguān de.)
[examination, look]彻(徹)底的 (chèdǐ de)
⇒ She took a closer look at the car.她更彻底地检查了那辆车。 (Tā gèng chèdǐ de jiǎnchále nà liàng chē.)
[contest]势(勢)均力敌(敵)的 (shì jūn lì dí de)
⇒ It is close but we are going to win.双方势均力敌但我们会赢的。 (Shuāngfāng shì jūn lì dí dàn wǒmen huì yíng de.)