A closet is a piece of furniture with doors at the front and shelves inside, which is used for storing things.
[US]regional note: in BRIT, use cupboard
2. countable noun
A closet is a very small room for storing things, especially one without windows.
[US, also British, old-fashioned]
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Closet is used to describe a person who has beliefs, habits, or feelings which they keep secret, often because they are embarrassed about them. Closet is also used of their beliefs, habits, or feelings.
He is a closet Fascist.
...closet misogyny.
Synonyms: secret, private, hidden, unknown More Synonyms of closet
4.
See come out of the closet
5.
See come out of the closet
6. See also closeted
7. a skeleton in the closet
More Synonyms of closet
closet in British English
(ˈklɒzɪt)
noun
1.
a small cupboard or recess
2.
a small private room
3. short for water closet
4. (modifier)
private or secret
5. (modifier)
suited or appropriate for use in private
closet meditations
6. (modifier) US and Canadian
based on or devoted to theory; speculative
a closet strategist
7. in the closet
8. out the closet
verbWord forms: -ets, -eting or -eted
9. (transitive)
to shut up or confine in a small private room, esp for conference or meditation
Word origin
C14: from Old French, from clos enclosure; see close1
closet in American English
(ˈklɑzɪt)
noun
1.
a small room or cupboard for clothes, household supplies, linens, etc.
2.
a small, private room for reading, meditation, etc.
3.
a monarch's private chamber as for prayer or conference
4.
water closet
5.
a state of secrecy, esp. concerning personal homosexual orientation or activity
used with the
adjective
6.
private, secret, or clandestine
a closet drinker
7.
marked by theorizing; speculative
closet thinking
verb transitive
8.
to shut up in a private room for confidential discussion
to closet oneself with councilors
Word origin
OFr, small enclosure, dim. of clos: see close1
closet in Hospitality
(klɒzɪt)
Word forms: (regular plural) closets
noun
(Hospitality (hotel): Hotel room, bedroom)
A closet is a very small room for storing things, especially one without windows.
The closet in the suite is large, with plenty of room for clothes.
Fetch the pan and brush from the broom closet.
The closets are not tall enough to hang long clothes in.
More idioms containing
closet
have a skeleton in the closet
Examples of 'closet' in a sentence
closet
They may well have a bigger investment than others in keeping the closet door tightly shut.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We need to clear space in the closet first.
Christianity Today (2000)
How do you identify a closet tracker?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Giving closet space pride of place in the house is becoming increasingly popular.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He stood up now and stretched in front of the mirror on the closet door.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Is my fund a closet tracker?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He then meticulously explores each room, opening closet doors and checking window locks.
Stanko, Elizabeth Everyday Violence (1990)
My closet is full of jackets, pants and fun tops.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Homeowners with more space and money could go one step farther with a walk-in closet.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
And a walk-in closet once filled with medical equipment including oxygen tanks is seen to be empty.
The Sun (2009)
We name some such closet tracker funds - for which investors are paying too much.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Obviously the closet was full.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Amy liked the idea, and gave her leave to arrange the light closet next her room, hoping it would do her good.
Louisa May Alcott Little Women (1869)
But I don't just have one closet.
The Sun (2011)
Word lists with
closet
cupboard
In other languages
closet
British English: closet NOUN
A closet is a very small room for storing things, especially one without windows.
American English: closet
Brazilian Portuguese: closet
Chinese: 储藏室
European Spanish: armario
French: placard
German: Wandschrank
Italian: ripostiglio
Japanese: クローゼット
Korean: 벽장
European Portuguese: quarto de vestir
Latin American Spanish: armario
All related terms of 'closet'
broom closet
a small cupboard or closet for storing brooms , mops , etc
closet drama
drama suitable for reading rather than performing
closet queen
a man who is homosexual but is not openly so
earth closet
a type of lavatory in which earth is used to cover excreta
linen closet
a closet with shelves for sheets , towels , table linen , etc.
water closet
a lavatory flushed by water
in the closet
concealing that one is not heterosexual
out the closet
having made it known that one is not heterosexual
broom cupboard
a small cupboard or closet for storing brooms , mops , etc
come out of the closet
If someone comes out of the closet , they tell people that they are gay after having kept this a secret .
skeleton in the closet
some fact , as about one's family, kept secret because of shame or fear of disgrace
have a skeleton in the closet
to keep secret something which would be scandalous or embarrassing for you if other people knew about it
a skeleton in the cupboard a skeleton in the closet
If you say that someone has a skeleton in the closet , or in British English a skeleton in the cupboard , you mean that they are keeping secret a bad or embarrassing fact about themselves.
come out
When a new product such as a book or CD comes out , it becomes available to the public.
Chinese translation of 'closet'
closet
(ˈklɔzɪt)
n(c)
(US) 壁橱(櫥) (bìchú) (个(個), gè)
英 = cupboard
adj
隐(隱)蔽的 (yǐnbì de)
to come out of the closet (fig) 从(從)隐(隱)蔽状(狀)态(態)转(轉)为(為)公开(開) (cóng yǐnbì zhuàngtài zhuǎnwéi gōngkāi)
(noun)
Definition
a small cupboard
(US)
Perhaps there's room in the broom closet.
Synonyms
cupboard
The kitchen cupboard was stocked with tins of food.
cabinet
a display cabinet with gleaming trophies
recess
cubicle
cubbyhole
Back in her cubbyhole of an office, Nina sat down at her desk.
(adjective)
Definition
private or secret
He is a closet folk enthusiast.
Synonyms
secret
Soldiers have been training at a secret location.
private
He held a private meeting with the country's political party leaders.
hidden
The den was hidden in the undergrowth.
unknown
concealed
He was filmed with a concealed camera.
covert
They have been supplying covert military aid to the rebels.
unrevealed
Additional synonyms
in the sense of cabinet
Definition
a piece of furniture containing shelves, cupboards, or drawers for storage or display
a display cabinet with gleaming trophies
Synonyms
cupboard,
case,
locker,
dresser,
closet (US),
press,
chiffonier
in the sense of concealed
He was filmed with a concealed camera.
Synonyms
hidden,
covered,
secret,
screened,
masked,
obscured,
covert,
unseen,
tucked away,
secreted,
under wraps,
inconspicuous
in the sense of covert
Definition
concealed or secret
They have been supplying covert military aid to the rebels.