CLOSE

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does close mean? 

• CLOSE (noun)
  The noun CLOSE has 3 senses:

1. the temporal end; the concluding time

2. the last section of a communication

3. the concluding part of any performance

  Familiarity information: CLOSE used as a noun is uncommon.

• CLOSE (adjective)
  The adjective CLOSE has 15 senses:

1. at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

2. close in relevance or relationship

3. not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances

4. rigorously attentive; strict and thorough

5. marked by fidelity to an original

6. (of a contest or contestants) evenly matched

7. crowded

8. lacking fresh air

9. of textiles

10. strictly confined or guarded

11. confined to specific persons

12. fitting closely but comfortably

13. used of hair or haircuts

14. giving or spending with reluctance

15. inclined to secrecy or reticence about divulging information

  Familiarity information: CLOSE used as an adjective is familiar.

• CLOSE (verb)
  The verb CLOSE has 17 senses:

1. move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut

2. become closed

3. cease to operate or cause to cease operating

4. finish or terminate (meetings, speeches, etc.)

5. come to a close

6. complete a business deal, negotiation, or an agreement

7. be priced or listed when trading stops

8. engage at close quarters

9. cause a window or an application to disappear on a computer desktop

10. change one's body stance so that the forward shoulder and foot are closer to the intended point of impact

11. come together, as if in an embrace

12. draw near

13. bring together all the elements or parts of

14. bar access to

15. fill or stop up

16. unite or bring into contact or bring together the edges of

17. finish a game in baseball by protecting a lead

  Familiarity information: CLOSE used as a verb is very familiar.

• CLOSE (adverb)
  The adverb CLOSE has 2 senses:

1. near in time or place or relationship

2. in an attentive manner

  Familiarity information: CLOSE used as an adverb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CLOSE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The temporal end; the concluding time

Classified under:

Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

Synonyms:

close; conclusion; finale; finis; finish; last; stopping point

Context example:

they were playing better at the close of the season

Hypernyms ("close" is a kind of...):

end; ending (the point in time at which something ends)

Derivation:

close (finish or terminate (meetings, speeches, etc.))

close (cease to operate or cause to cease operating)

close (come to a close)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The last section of a communication

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

close; closing; conclusion; end; ending

Context example:

in conclusion I want to say...

Hypernyms ("close" is a kind of...):

section; subdivision (a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "close"):

epilog; epilogue (a short passage added at the end of a literary work)

epilog; epilogue (a short speech (often in verse) addressed directly to the audience by an actor at the end of a play)

peroration ((rhetoric) the concluding section of an oration)

coda; finale (the closing section of a musical composition)

anticlimax; bathos (a change from a serious subject to a disappointing one)

Holonyms ("close" is a part of...):

narration; recital; yarn (the act of giving an account describing incidents or a course of events)

address; speech (the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The concluding part of any performance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

close; closing curtain; finale; finis

Hypernyms ("close" is a kind of...):

finish; finishing (the act of finishing)

Derivation:

close (come to a close)

• CLOSE (adjective)

Declension: comparative and superlative

Sense 1

Meaning:

At or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

Context example:

a close formation of ships

Similar:

scalelike (reduced to a small appressed thing that resembles a scale)

walk-to; walking (close enough to be walked to)

proximate (very close in space or time)

nestled; snuggled (drawn or pressed close to someone or something for or as if for affection or protection)

juxtaposed (placed side by side often for comparison)

hand-to-hand (being at close quarters)

enveloping (surrounding and closing in on or hemming in)

circumferent; encompassing; surrounding (closely encircling)

contiguous; immediate (very close or connected in space or time)

close-hauled (having the sails trimmed for sailing as close to the wind as possible)

at hand; close at hand (close in space; within reach)

at hand; close at hand; imminent; impendent; impending (close in time; about to occur)

approximate; close together (located close together)

adpressed; appressed (pressed close to or lying flat against something)

ambient (completely enveloping)

adjacent; next; side by side (nearest in space or position; immediately adjoining without intervening space)

close-set; close set (set close together)

Attribute:

distance (the property created by the space between two objects or points)

Antonym:

distant (separated in space or coming from or going to a distance)

Derivation:

closeness (the spatial property resulting from a relatively small distance)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Close in relevance or relationship

Context example:

a close resemblance

Similar:

cozy (suggesting connivance)

intimate (marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity)

familiar; intimate (having mutual interests or affections; of established friendship)

dear; good; near (with or in a close or intimate relationship)

confidential (denoting confidence or intimacy)

close-knit; closely knit (held together as by social or cultural ties)

buddy-buddy; chummy; thick ((used informally) associated on close terms)

boon (very close and convivial)

approximate; near (very close in resemblance)

Antonym:

distant (far apart in relevance or relationship or kinship)

Derivation:

closeness (a feeling of being intimate and belonging together)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances

Synonyms:

close; near; nigh

Context example:

had a close call

Similar:

adjacent (near or close to but not necessarily touching)

nearby (close at hand)

warm (of a seeker; near to the object sought)

hot (of a seeker; very near to the object sought)

Attribute:

distance (the property created by the space between two objects or points)

Derivation:

closeness (the spatial property resulting from a relatively small distance)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Rigorously attentive; strict and thorough

Context example:

kept a close watch on expenditures

Similar:

careful (exercising caution or showing care or attention)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Marked by fidelity to an original

Synonyms:

close; faithful

Context example:

a faithful rendering of the observed facts

Similar:

accurate (conforming exactly or almost exactly to fact or to a standard or performing with total accuracy)

Sense 6

Meaning:

(of a contest or contestants) evenly matched

Synonyms:

close; tight

Context example:

a tight game

Similar:

equal (having the same quantity, value, or measure as another)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Crowded

Synonyms:

close; confining

Context example:

close quarters

Similar:

confined (not free to move about)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Lacking fresh air

Synonyms:

airless; close; stuffy; unaired

Context example:

hot and stuffy and the air was blue with smoke

Similar:

unventilated (not ventilated)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Of textiles

Synonyms:

close; tight

Context example:

smooth percale with a very tight weave

Similar:

fine (of textures that are smooth to the touch or substances consisting of relatively small particles)

Sense 10

Meaning:

Strictly confined or guarded

Context example:

kept under close custody

Similar:

restrained (under restraint)

Sense 11

Meaning:

Confined to specific persons

Context example:

a close secret

Similar:

private (confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy)

Sense 12

Meaning:

Fitting closely but comfortably

Synonyms:

close; close-fitting; snug

Context example:

a close fit

Similar:

tight (closely constrained or constricted or constricting)

Sense 13

Meaning:

Used of hair or haircuts

Context example:

a close military haircut

Similar:

short ((primarily spatial sense) having little length or lacking in length)

Sense 14

Meaning:

Giving or spending with reluctance

Synonyms:

cheeseparing; close; near; penny-pinching; skinny

Context example:

a penny-pinching miserly old man

Similar:

stingy; ungenerous (unwilling to spend (money, time, resources, etc.))

Derivation:

closeness (extreme stinginess)

Sense 15

Meaning:

Inclined to secrecy or reticence about divulging information

Synonyms:

close; closelipped; closemouthed; secretive; tightlipped

Context example:

although they knew her whereabouts her friends kept close about it

Similar:

incommunicative; uncommunicative (not inclined to talk or give information or express opinions)

Derivation:

closeness (characterized by a lack of openness (especially about one's actions or purposes))

• CLOSE (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

close; shut

Context example:

shut the window

Cause:

close; shut (become closed)

Verb group:

close; shut (become closed)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "close"):

bang; slam (close violently)

seal; seal off (make tight; secure against leakage)

bung (close with a cork or stopper)

roll up (close (a car window) by causing it to move up, as with a handle)

draw (move or pull so as to cover or uncover something)

shutter (close with shutters)

slat (close the slats of (windows))

snap (close with a snapping motion)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sentence example:

They want to close the doors

Antonym:

open (cause to open or to become open)

Derivation:

closing (the act of closing something)

closure (the act of blocking)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Become closed

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

close; shut

Context example:

The windows closed with a loud bang

Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

change state; turn (undergo a transformation or a change of position or action)

Verb group:

close; shut (move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sentence example:

The doors close

Antonym:

open (become open)

Derivation:

closing (the act of closing something)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Cease to operate or cause to cease operating

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

close; close down; close up; fold; shut down

Context example:

close up the shop

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "close"):

adjourn; retire; withdraw (break from a meeting or gathering)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

The business is going to close

Antonym:

open (start to operate or function or cause to start operating or functioning)

Derivation:

close (the temporal end; the concluding time)

closer (a person who closes something)

closing; closure (termination of operations)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Finish or terminate (meetings, speeches, etc.)

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

The meeting was closed with a charge by the chairman of the board

Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

end; terminate (bring to an end or halt)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Antonym:

open (begin or set in action, of meetings, speeches, recitals, etc.)

Derivation:

close (the temporal end; the concluding time)

closing (a concluding action)

closure (termination of operations)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Come to a close

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

close; conclude

Context example:

The concert closed with a nocturne by Chopin

Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

cease; end; finish; stop; terminate (have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense; either spatial or metaphorical)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Derivation:

closing (a concluding action)

closing (the last section of a communication)

close (the temporal end; the concluding time)

close (the concluding part of any performance)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Complete a business deal, negotiation, or an agreement

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

They closed the deal on the building

Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

end; terminate (bring to an end or halt)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Sense 7

Meaning:

Be priced or listed when trading stops

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

My new stocks closed at $59 last night

Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

trade (be traded at a certain price or under certain conditions)

Sentence frame:

Something is ----ing PP

Sense 8

Meaning:

Engage at close quarters

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

close with the enemy

Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

engage; prosecute; pursue (carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

closing (approaching a particular destination; a coming closer; a narrowing of a gap)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Cause a window or an application to disappear on a computer desktop

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

end; terminate (be the end of; be the last or concluding part of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Antonym:

open (display the contents of a file or start an application as on a computer)

Derivation:

closing (the act of closing something)

closure (termination of operations)

Sense 10

Meaning:

Change one's body stance so that the forward shoulder and foot are closer to the intended point of impact

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

Domain category:

ball game; ballgame (a field game played with a ball (especially baseball))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sense 11

Meaning:

Come together, as if in an embrace

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

close; come together

Context example:

Her arms closed around her long lost relative

Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

Sentence frame:

Something is ----ing PP

Sense 12

Meaning:

Draw near

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

The probe closed with the space station

Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

approach; come near; come on; draw close; draw near; go up; near (move towards)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

closing; closure (approaching a particular destination; a coming closer; a narrowing of a gap)

Sense 13

Meaning:

Bring together all the elements or parts of

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

Management closed ranks

Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

join (cause to become joined or linked)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 14

Meaning:

Bar access to

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

Due to the accident, the road had to be closed for several hours

Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

bar; barricade; block; block off; block up; blockade; stop (render unsuitable for passage)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

closing (the act of closing something)

closure (the act of blocking)

Sense 15

Meaning:

Fill or stop up

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

close; fill up

Context example:

Can you close the cracks with caulking?

Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

fill (plug with a substance)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "close"):

seal (close with or as if with a seal)

plug; secure; stop up (fill or close tightly with or as if with a plug)

coapt; conglutinate (cause to adhere)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

closure (the act of blocking)

closing (the act of closing something)

Sense 16

Meaning:

Unite or bring into contact or bring together the edges of

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

close; close up

Context example:

close up an umbrella

Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

join (cause to become joined or linked)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

closing (approaching a particular destination; a coming closer; a narrowing of a gap)

Sense 17

Meaning:

Finish a game in baseball by protecting a lead

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

The relief pitcher closed with two runs in the second inning

Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

complete; finish (come or bring to a finish or an end)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

• CLOSE (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Near in time or place or relationship

Synonyms:

close; near; nigh

Context example:

don't get too close to the fire

Sense 2

Meaning:

In an attentive manner

Synonyms:

close; closely; tight

Context example:

he remained close on his guard

 Context examples 

We all gazed expectantly at the closed door.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He forgot his awkward walk and came closer to the painting, very close.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

He felt his way among the furniture, opened another door, and closed it behind us.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

As you move closer to the end of December, news about money will keep becoming bigger and better for your finances.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

One glance told her of the danger close at hand.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

The box was close on every side, with a little door for me to go in and out, and a few gimlet holes to let in air.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

“In four months, possibly three if the season closes early,” Wolf Larsen said.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

The bottom of the valley was soggy with water, which the thick moss held, spongelike, close to the surface.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

As I went through the passage the smell grew closer and heavier.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Close at his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle size, but of an exceeding thinness.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)