Definition of: close

(klōs) adjective clos·er, clos·est
1. Enclosed or partly enclosed; shut in or about; confined; encompassed by limits, walls, or bounds; hence, kept in confinement: a close prisoner.
2. Closed so as to confine, restrict, or keep out something; fast shut: a close box.
3. Near or near together, in space, time, etc.: The two houses were close to each other.
4. Divided by small intervals: a close sequence of events.
5. Marked by nearness in space, order, or arrangement: marching in close order.
6. Dense; compact: a close fabric.
7. Affectionately associated; trusty; intimate: a close friend.
8. Exactly or literally executed; near in thought or performance to some aim, purpose, or standard: a close copy. That shot was close.
9. Narrowly confined or attentive to some object; watchful; strict; searching: a close search.
10. Nearly even or equal, without much difference in favor of either side: a close election.
11. Concealing one's thoughts and feelings; secretive; reticent.
12. Not liberal; stingy.
13. Ill-ventilated; heavy; stifling; dense: close weather.
14. Colloq. Difficult to obtain; tight: said of money or the money market.
15. Shut or restricted by law; not open or free: a close season for fishing; a close corporation.
16. Fitting tightly or snugly: a close cap.
17. Near to the surface: a close shave.
18. Phonet. Describing those vowels pronounced with a part of the tongue relatively close to the palate, as the (ē) in seat; high: opposed to open. See synonyms under ADJACENT, AVARICIOUS, FIRM, IMMEDIATE, IMPENETRABLE, TACITURN.
—v. (klōz) closed, clos·ing v.t.
1. To shut, as a door.
2. To fill or obstruct, as an opening or passage.
3. To bring the parts of together, as a knife or book.
4. To bring into contact; join, as parts of an electric circuit.
5. To bring to an end; terminate.
6. To shut in; enclose.
—v.i.
7. To become shut or closed.
8. To come to an end.
9. To grapple; come to close quarters.
10. To join; coalesce; unite.
11. To come to an agreement.
12. To be worth at the end of a business day: Stocks closed at an average three points higher.
—to close down
1. To come upon; enfold: Night closed down.
2. To suppress: The law closed down on gambling.
3. To discontinue a business or venture.
—to close in To advance and surround.
—to close out U.S. To sell all of, as goods, usually at a reduced price.
—to close up To make all final arrangements: to close up one's affairs.
—noun (klōz)
1. The end; conclusion.
2. A grapple.
3. A junction; meeting.
4. (klōs) Any place shut in or enclosed, as by a fence; specifically, the precinct of a cathedral or abbey.
5. (klōs) Law Land adjoining a house.
6. (klōs) An interest in the soil entitling the holders to damages in event of trespass.
—to break close To trespass.
—adverb (klōs) Closely. [<OF clos, pp. of clore close <L claudere close]
—close·ly (klōs′lē) adverb
—close·ness (klōs′nis) noun
—clos·er (klō′zər) noun