Nearby Words
closely
[v. klohz; adj., adv. klohs or, for 51, klohz; n. klohz for 59, 60, 63–65, 67, 68, klohs for 61, 62, 66]
Origin
close
[v. klohz; adj., adv. klohs or, for 51, klohz; n. klohz for 59, 60, 63–65, 67, 68, klohs for 61, 62, 66] verb, closed, clos·ing, adjective, clos·er, clos·est, adverb, noun verb (used with object)
1.
to put (something) in a position to obstruct an entrance, opening, etc.; shut.
2.
to stop or obstruct (a gap, entrance, aperture, etc.): to close a hole in a wall with plaster.
3.
to block or hinder passage across or access to: to close a border to tourists; to close the woods to picnickers.
4.
to stop or obstruct the entrances, apertures, or gaps in: He closed the crate and tied it up.
5.
EXPAND(of the mind) to make imperceptive or inaccessible: to close one's mind to the opposite opinion.
6.
to bring together the parts of; join; unite (often followed by up): Close up those ranks! The surgeon closed the incision.
7.
Electricity. to complete (an electrical circuit) by joining the circuit elements: The circuit was closed so the current could be measured.
8.
to bring to an end: to close a debate.
9.
to arrange the final details of; to conclude negotiations about: to close a deal to everyone's satisfaction.
10.
to complete or settle (a contract or transaction); consummate: We close the sale of the house next week.
11.
to stop rendering the customary services of: to close a store for the night.
12.
to terminate or suspend the operation of; to halt the activities of: The epidemic forced authorities to close the schools. The police closed the bar for selling liquor to minors.
13.
Nautical. to come close to: We closed the cruiser to put our injured captain on board.
14.
Metalworking. to reduce the internal diameter of (a tube or the like).
15.
COLLAPSEArchaic. to shut in or surround on all sides; enclose; cover in: to close a bird in a cage.
verb (used without object)
16.
17.
to come together; unite: Her lips closed firmly.
18.
to come close: His pursuers closed rapidly.
19.
to grapple; engage in close encounter (often followed by with): We closed with the invaders shortly before sundown.
20.
EXPANDto come to an end; terminate: The service closed with a hymn.
21.
to cease to offer the customary activities or services: The school closed for the summer.
22.
to enter into or reach an agreement, usually as a contract: The builder closed with the contractor after negotiations.
23.
(of a theatrical production) to cease to be performed: The play closed in New York yesterday and will open in Dallas next week.
24.
COLLAPSE(of a stock, group of stocks, etc.) to be priced or show a change in price as specified at the end of a trading period: The market closed low for the fourth straight day.
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Closely
is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
adjective
25.
having the parts or elements near to one another: a close formation of battleships.
26.
compact; dense: a close texture; a close weave.
27.
being in or having proximity in space or time: The barn is so close to the house that you can hear the animals. His birthday is in May, close to mine.
28.
marked by similarity in degree, action, feeling, etc.: This dark pink is close to red. He left her close to tears.
29.
EXPANDnear, or near together, in kind or relationship: a flower close to a rose; a close relative.
30.
intimate or confidential; dear.
31.
based on a strong uniting feeling of respect, honor, or love: a close circle of friends.
32.
fitting tightly: a close, clinging negligee.
33.
(of a haircut or shave, the mowing of a lawn, etc.) so executed that the hair, grass, or the like is left flush with the surface or very short.
34.
not deviating from the subject under consideration.
35.
strict; searching; minute: The matter requires close investigation.
36.
not deviating from a model or original: a close, literal translation.
37.
nearly even or equal: a close contest.
38.
strictly logical: close reasoning.
39.
shut; shut tight; not open: a close hatch.
40.
shut in; enclosed.
41.
completely enclosing or surrounding: a close siege preventing all escape.
42.
without opening; with all openings covered or closed.
43.
confined; narrow: close quarters.
44.
lacking fresh or freely circulating air: a hot, close room.
45.
heavy; oppressive: a spell of close, sultry weather.
46.
narrowly confined, as a prisoner.
47.
practicing or keeping secrecy; secretive; reticent: She is so close that you can tell her all your secrets.
48.
parsimonious; stingy: He is very close with his money.
49.
scarce, as money.
50.
not open to public or general admission, competition, etc.: The entire parish participated in the close communication.
51.
52.
Hunting, Angling. closed (def. 8).
53.
54.
Heraldry. (of a bird) represented as having folded wings: an eagle close.
55.
COLLAPSEArchaic. viscous; not volatile.
adverb
56.
in a close manner; closely.
57.
near; close by.
58.
Heraldry. immediately behind the ears, so as to show no neck: a bear's head couped close.
noun
Verb phrases59.
the act of closing.
60.
the end or conclusion: at the close of day; the close of the speech.
61.
an enclosed place or enclosure, especially one about or beside a cathedral or other building.
62.
EXPANDany piece of land held as private property.
69.
close down,
a.
to terminate the operation of; discontinue: to close down an air base because of budget cuts.
b.
to attempt to control or eliminate: The city must close down drug traffic.
70.
close in on/upon,
a.
to approach so as to capture, attack, arrest, etc.: The hoodlums closed in on their victim.
b.
to surround or envelop so as to entrap: a feeling that the room was closing in upon her.
71.
close out,
a.
to reduce the price of (merchandise) for quick sale: That store is closing out its stock of men's clothing.
b.
to liquidate or dispose of finally and completely: They closed out their interests after many years in this city.
72.
Idiomsclose up,
a.
to come together in close array; converge: The enemy was closing up on us from both flanks.
b.
to bring to an end; cease: The company is closing up its overseas operations.
c.
to become silent or uncommunicative.
d.
to reduce or eliminate spacing material between (units of set type).
73.
close ranks, to unite forces, especially by overlooking petty differences, in order to deal with an adverse or challenging situation; to join together in a show of unity, especially to the public: When the newspaper story broke suggesting possible corruption in the government, the politicians all closed ranks.
74.
close to the wind, Nautical. in a direction nearly opposite to that from which the wind is coming: to sail close to the wind.
75.
close up,
a.
from close range; in a detailed manner; intimately.
b.
Nautical. fully raised; at the top of the halyard: an answering pennant flown close up. Compare dip (def. 37).
Origin:
before 1050; (noun, adj.) Middle English clos < Anglo-French, Old French < Latin clausus, past participle of claudere to close (compare clause); (v.) Middle English closen, verbal derivative of the adj. (compare Old English clȳsan, beclȳsan to shut in, enclose, verbal derivative of clūse bar, enclosure < Medieval Latin clūsa, for Latin clausa, feminine of clausus); noun and adj. senses with voiced pronunciation of s are presumably modern deverbal derivatives
before 1050; (noun, adj.) Middle English clos < Anglo-French, Old French < Latin clausus, past participle of claudere to close (compare clause); (v.) Middle English closen, verbal derivative of the adj. (compare Old English clȳsan, beclȳsan to shut in, enclose, verbal derivative of clūse bar, enclosure < Medieval Latin clūsa, for Latin clausa, feminine of clausus); noun and adj. senses with voiced pronunciation of s are presumably modern deverbal derivatives
Related forms
non·close, adjective
non·close·ly, adverb
EXPANDo·ver·close, adjective
o·ver·close·ly, adverb
o·ver·close·ness, noun
pre·close, verb (used with object), -closed, -clos·ing.
un·clos·a·ble, adjective
COLLAPSESynonyms
2. bar; clog; choke. Close, shut mean to cause something not to be open. Close suggests blocking an opening or vacant place: to close a breach in a wall. The word shut refers especially to blocking or barring openings intended for entering and leaving: to shut a door, gate, etc., and close can be used in this sense, too: to close a door, gate, etc. 8. complete, end, conclude, terminate, finish. 21. stop; suspend. 26. firm, solid. 27. immediate, proximate, nearby. 35. intent, concentrated. 36. scrupulous, exacting, accurate, faithful. 45. muggy, thick. 47. taciturn, uncommunicative, reserved. 48. penurious, miserly, tight, mean. See stingy. 59. See end1.
2. bar; clog; choke. Close, shut mean to cause something not to be open. Close suggests blocking an opening or vacant place: to close a breach in a wall. The word shut refers especially to blocking or barring openings intended for entering and leaving: to shut a door, gate, etc., and close can be used in this sense, too: to close a door, gate, etc. 8. complete, end, conclude, terminate, finish. 21. stop; suspend. 26. firm, solid. 27. immediate, proximate, nearby. 35. intent, concentrated. 36. scrupulous, exacting, accurate, faithful. 45. muggy, thick. 47. taciturn, uncommunicative, reserved. 48. penurious, miserly, tight, mean. See stingy. 59. See end1.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Link To closely
Collins
World English Dictionary
| close1 (kləʊs) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | near in space or time; in proximity |
| 2. | having the parts near together; dense: a close formation |
| 3. | down or near to the surface; short: a close haircut |
| 4. | near in relationship: a close relative |
| 5. | intimate or confidential: a close friend |
| 6. | almost equal or even: a close contest |
| 7. | not deviating or varying greatly from a model or standard: a close resemblance; a close translation |
| 8. | careful, strict, or searching: a close study |
| 9. | (of a style of play in football, hockey, etc) characterized by short passes |
| 10. | confined or enclosed |
| 11. | shut or shut tight |
| 12. | oppressive, heavy, or airless: a close atmosphere |
| 13. | strictly guarded: a close prisoner |
| 14. | neat or tight in fit: a close cap |
| 15. | secretive or reticent |
| 16. | miserly; not generous, esp with money |
| 17. | (of money or credit) hard to obtain; scarce |
| 18. | restricted as to public admission or membership |
| 19. | hidden or secluded |
| 20. | Also: closed restricted or prohibited as to the type of game or fish able to be taken |
| 21. | phonetics closed, Also: narrow denoting a vowel pronounced with the lips relatively close together |
| —adv | |
| 22. | closely; tightly |
| 23. | near or in proximity |
| 24. | nautical close to the wind See also wind sailing as nearly as possible towards the direction from which the wind is blowing |
| [C13: from Old French clos close, enclosed, from Latin clausus shut up, from claudere to close] | |
| 'closely1 | |
| —adv | |
| 'closeness1 | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
close
early 14c., "strictly confined," also "secret," from O.Fr. clos "confined," from L. clausus, pp. of claudere "stop up, fasten, shut" (see close (v.)); sense shifting to "near" (late 15c.) by way of "closing the gap between two things." Close call is 1881; close shave is 1834;
EXPANDclose quarters is 1753, originally nautical. Close-up (n.) in photography, etc., is from 1913. Closed circuit is attested from 1827; closed shop in union sense from 1904; closed system first recorded 1896 in William James; close-minded is attested from 1854.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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