close up \-ōz-\verb Etymology:close (I) transitive verb 1.: to bring to a complete conclusion or settlement 2.: to restrain by legal measures from further business operations 3.printing a.: to remove or reduce the spacing material between (units of set type matter) b.: to assemble (type matter set in separate takes) intransitive verb 1.: to converge in close array 2.: to discontinue business operations 3.: to retreat into complete silence : become uncommunicative • - close up shop