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near - 9 dictionary results

near

  [neer] adverb, -er, -est, adjective, -er, -est, preposition, verb
Use near in a Sentence
–adverb
1. close; to a point or place not far away: Come near so I won't have to shout.
2. at, within, or to a short distance.
3. close in time: The New Year draws near.
4. close in relation; closely with respect to connection, similarity, intimacy, etc. (often used in combination): a near-standing position.
5. all but; almost; nearly: a period of near 30 years.
6. Nautical. close to the wind.
7. Archaic. in a thrifty or stingy manner.
–adjective
8. being close by; not distant: the near fields.
9. being the lesser in distance: the near side.
10. short or direct: the near road.
11. close in time: the near future.
12. closely related or connected: our nearest relatives.
13. close to an original: a near translation.
14. closely affecting one's interests or feelings: a matter of near consequence to one.
15. intimate or familiar: a near friend.
16. narrow or close: a near escape.
17. thrifty or stingy: near with one's pocketbook.
18. (of two draft animals hitched together) being on the driver's left (as opposed to off): The near horse is going lame.
–preposition
19. at, to, or within a short distance, or no great distance, from or of: regions near the equator.
20. close to in time: near the beginning of the year.
21. close to a condition or state: He is near death.
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
22. to come or draw near; approach: The boat neared the dock. Storm clouds neared.
—Idiom
23. near at hand,
a. in the immediate vicinity: There is a shopping area near at hand.
b. in the near future; soon: The departure is near at hand.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME nere, OE nēar, comp. of nēah nigh

Related forms:
nearness, noun

Synonyms:
11. imminent, impending, approaching. 17. tight, miserly.

Antonyms:
1, 2, 8–11, 18. far. 17. generous.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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near   (nîr)   
adv.   near·er, near·est
  1. To, at, or within a short distance or interval in space or time.
  2. Just about; almost; nearly: was near exhausted from the labor; near dead after the assault.
  3. With or in a close relationship.
adj.   nearer, nearest
  1. Close in time, space, position, or degree: near equals.
  2. Closely related by kinship or association; intimate: a near relative; a near and dear friend. See Synonyms at close.
    1. Nearly occurring but not actually happening: a near victory; a near disaster.
    2. Just barely avoided: a near hit by the incendiary bomb.
    3. Closely corresponding to or resembling an original: a near likeness.
    4. Closely resembling the genuine article: a dress of near satin; near silver beads.
    5. Closer of two or more: Take the near street and then turn right.
    6. Being on the left side of an animal or a vehicle.
    7. Being the animal or vehicle on the left.
    1. Closely corresponding to or resembling an original: a near likeness.
    2. Closely resembling the genuine article: a dress of near satin; near silver beads.
    3. Closer of two or more: Take the near street and then turn right.
    4. Being on the left side of an animal or a vehicle.
    5. Being the animal or vehicle on the left.
    1. Closer of two or more: Take the near street and then turn right.
    2. Being on the left side of an animal or a vehicle.
    3. Being the animal or vehicle on the left.
  6. Short and direct: the nearest route to town.
  7. Stingy; parsimonious.
prep.  Close to: an inn near London.
v.   neared, near·ing, nears

v.   tr.
To come close or closer to.
v.   intr.
To draw near or nearer; approach.

[Middle English ner, from Old English nēar, from comparative of nēah, close, near.]
near'ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Near

Near\ (n[=e]r), adv. [AS. ne['a]r, compar. of ne['a]h nigh. See Nigh.]

1. At a little distance, in place, time, manner, or degree; not remote; nigh.

My wife! my traitress! let her not come near me. --Milton.

2. Nearly; almost; well-nigh. "Near twenty years ago." --Shak. "Near a fortnight ago." --Addison.

Near about the yearly value of the land. --Locke.

3. Closely; intimately. --Shak.

Far and near, at a distance and close by; throughout a whole region.

To come near to, to want but little of; to approximate to. "Such a sum he found would go near to ruin him." --Addison.

Near the wind (Naut.), close to the wind; closehauled.

Near

Near\, a. [Compar. Nearer; superl. Nearest.] [See Near, adv.]

1. Not far distant in time, place, or degree; not remote; close at hand; adjacent; neighboring; nigh. "As one near death." --Shak.

He served great Hector, and was ever near, Not with his trumpet only, but his spear. --Dryden.

2. Closely connected or related.

She is thy father's near kinswoman. --Lev. xviii. 12.

3. Close to one's interests, affection, etc.; touching, or affecting intimately; intimate; dear; as, a near friend.

4. Close to anything followed or imitated; not free, loose, or rambling; as, a version near to the original.

5. So as barely to avoid or pass injury or loss; close; narrow; as, a near escape.

6. Next to the driver, when he is on foot; in the Unted States, on the left of an animal or a team; as, the near ox; the near leg. See Off side, under Off, a.

7. Immediate; direct; close; short. "The nearest way." --Milton.

8. Close-fisted; parsimonious. [Obs. or Low, Eng.]

Note: Near may properly be followed by to before the thing approached'; but more frequently to is omitted, and the adjective or the adverb is regarded as a preposition. The same is also true of the word nigh.

Syn: Nigh; close; adjacent; proximate; contiguous; present; ready; intimate; dear.

Near

Near\, prep. Adjacent to; close by; not far from; nigh; as, the ship sailed near the land. See the Note under near, a.

Near

Near\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Neared; p. pr. & vb. n Nearing.] [See Near, adv.] To approach; to come nearer; as, the ship neared the land.

Near

Near\, v. i. To draw near; to approach.

A speck, a mist, a shape, I wist! And still it neared, and neared. --Coleridge.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : near
Spanish: cerca,
German: nahe,
Japanese: 近い
More Translations »

near 
O.E. near "closer, nearer," comp. of neah, neh "nigh." Influenced by O.N. naer "near," it came to be used as a positive form c.1250, and new comp. nearer developed 1500s (see nigh). Originally an adv., but now supplanted in most such senses by nearly; it has in turn supplanted correct nigh as an adjective. In near and dear (1621) it refers to nearness of kinship. Verb meaning "to draw near" is attested from 1513. Nearly (1540) originally meant "carefully;" sense of "almost, all but" is from 1683. Near by "close at hand" is from c.1375. Near East first attested 1891, in Kipling. Near-sighted is from 1686. Near beer "low-alcoholic brew" is from 1909.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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near

In addition to the idioms beginning with near, also see far and near; in the near future; not anything like (anywhere near).

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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