close


Definition: Meaning of, close in English to English dictionary.

Pronunciation: / kləʊs /

  • verb
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Word Forms:
Prsesent Past Past Participle
close closed closed
Present Participle Third Person Singular
closing closes
  1. shut [intransitive and transitive] to shut something in order to cover an opening, or to become shut in this way [↪  closed] [=  shut]
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  2. move parts together [intransitive and transitive] to move the parts of something together so that there is no longer a space between them
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  3. shut for period of time [intransitive and transitive] also close up if a shop or building closes, or you close it, it stops being open to the public for a period of time [=  shut British English [↪  closed]
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  4. stop operating [intransitive and transitive] also close down if a company, shop etc closes, or you close it, it stops operating permanently [↪  closed] [=  shut down]
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  5. end [intransitive and transitive] to end or to make something end, especially in a particular way
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  6. close an account to stop having and using a bank account or other financial account
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  7. in money markets [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to be worth a particular amount of money at the end of a day's TRADING (= the buying and selling of shares ) on the STOCK EXCHANGE
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  8. close a deal/sale/contract etc to successfully agree a business deal, sale etc
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  9. offer finishes [intransitive] to finish on a particular date [=  end]
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  10. make distance/difference smaller [intransitive and transitive] to make the distance or difference between two things smaller
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  11. make something unavailable [transitive] to make taking part in an activity or using an opportunity no longer possible [↪  closed]
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  12. be closed if a subject is closed, you are no longer willing to discuss it
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  13. close your doors (to somebody) to stop operating permanently
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  14. close your mind to/against something to refuse to think about something
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  15. hold something [intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive] if someone's hands, arms etc close around something, or are closed around something, they hold it firmly
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  16. wound also close up [intransitive and transitive] if a wound closes, or if someone closes it, the edges grow together again or are sewn together
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  17. close ranks if people close ranks, they join together to protect each other, especially because their group, organization etc is being criticized
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  18. close ranks if soldiers close ranks, they stand closer together
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  19. close the book on something to stop working on something, especially a police operation, because it is not making any progress
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  • adjective
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Word Forms:
Positive Comparative Superlative
close closer closest
  1. near not far from someone or something [=  near]
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  2. near in time near to something in time
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  3. likely to happen seeming very likely to happen or very likely to do something soon
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  4. like/love if two people are close, they like or love each other very much
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  5. similar very similar to each other
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  6. careful [usually before noun] looking at, thinking about, or watching something very carefully [↪  closely]
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  7. number/amount if a number or amount is close to another number or amount, it is not much higher or lower than it
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  8. competition/election etc finishing or being played, fought etc with both sides almost equal
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  9. close relation/relative a member of your family such as your brother, sister, parent etc
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  10. very nearly bad used when you have only just managed to avoid something bad, dangerous, or embarrassing happening
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  11. almost very nearly getting, finding, or achieving something
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  12. keep in close contact/touch if two people keep in close contact, they see, talk to, or write to each other often
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  13. work/talk together relating to a situation in which people work well with each other or talk to each other often
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  14. with little space with little or no space around something or between things
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  15. close/you're close/that's close spoken used to tell someone that they have almost guessed or answered something correctly
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  16. close to the bone if something someone says is close to the bone, it makes you feel uncomfortable or offends you, especially because it is about something you do not want to admit is true
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  17. close, but no cigar spoken used when something someone does or says is almost correct or successful
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  18. too close for comfort if something that happens is too close for comfort, it is near enough to make you feel nervous or afraid
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  19. close to home if a remark or criticism is close to home, it makes you feel uncomfortable because it is likely to be true
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  20. close to home if something unpleasant happens close to home, you are directly affected by it
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  21. at close quarters if something happens or is done at close quarters, it happens inside a small space or is done from a short distance away
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  22. weather British English uncomfortably warm because there seems to be no air
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  23. unwilling to talk about something [not before noun] unwilling to tell people about something [=  secretive]
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  24. unwilling to spend money [not before noun] not generous
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  25. a close shave when the hair on someone's face is cut very close to the skin
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  26. close work work that involves looking at or handling things in a very skilful, detailed, and careful way
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  27. close vowel technical a close vowel is pronounced with only a small space between the tongue and the top of the mouth
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  • adverb
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  • antonym
Word Forms:
Positive Comparative Superlative
close closer closest
  1. not far away [=  near]
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  2. close up/up close/close to from only a short distance away
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  3. close on something/close to something spoken used to talk about a number, amount etc that is almost exact, but not completely
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  4. come close (to doing something) to almost do something
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  5. come close (to doing something) to be almost as good as someone or something else
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  6. a close run thing British English a situation in which the people competing with each other are almost equal, so neither of them is more likely to win than the other
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  7. close on the heels of something very soon after something else
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  8. near to the surface of something
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  9. run somebody close British English to be almost as successful, skilful etc as someone else
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  • noun
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Word Forms:
Singular Plural
close closes
[singular]
  1. [singular] formal the end of an activity or of a period of time
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  2. British English used in street names for a road that has only one way in or out
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  3. [countable usually singular] British English the area and buildings surrounding a CATHEDRAL
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close used in phrases

  • at close range (adverb)
    1. very close
  • bringing close together (noun)
    1. the act of bringing near or bringing together especially the cut edges of tissue
  • close at hand (adjective)
    1. close in space; within reach
    2. close in time; about to occur
  • close call (noun)
    1. or escaped something achieved by a narrow margin
  • close corporation (noun)
    1. a corporation owned by a few people; shares have no public market
  • close harmony (noun)
    1. a style of music where the chords are arranged within a narrow range, and the vocal styles of two or more singers either complement or are similar to each other
  • close order (noun)
    1. military a military formation for drill or marching
  • close out (verb)
    1. make impossible, especially beforehand
    2. terminate by selling off or disposing of
  • close quarters (noun)
    1. a situation of being uncomfortably close to someone or something
  • close season (noun)
    1. the period each year when particular animals, birds, or fish cannot legally be killed for sport ; =  closed season AmE]
    2. the period of a year when particular sports are not normally played
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close used in phrasal verbs

  • close down (phrasal verb)
    1. [intransitive/transitive] same as close1
    2. [intransitive/transitive] same as close1 (sense 5)
  • close in (phrasal verb)
    1. to move nearer to someone, especially in order to surround them and stop them from escaping
    2. if the weather closes in, it becomes unpleasant
  • close off (phrasal verb)
    1. to prevent people from entering a place, using a road etc
  • close up (phrasal verb)
    1. [intransitive/transitive] to lock the doors of a building or business
    2. [intransitive/transitive] to move people or things closer together, or to move closer together
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