close

I UK [kləʊz] / US [kloʊz] verb
Word forms "close":
present tense I/you/we/they close he/she/it closes present participle closing past tense closed past participle closed
***

1)

a) [intransitive/transitive] if you close something, or if it closes, it moves to cover an open area

Close the door quietly behind you.

Did the fridge door close completely?

I was just closing my eyes to go to sleep when the phone rang.

Her mouth closed after a moment and she said nothing.

b) [transitive] to move together the parts of something that was spread to its full size

Nick closed his book and put it down.

Closing the umbrella, she ran for the car.

2)

a) [intransitive/transitive] to stop doing business at regular times or temporarily

We close the office at noon on Fridays.

Snow forced both airports to close.

close for:

We will close for stocktaking next week.

close on:

The Blue Café closes on Mondays.

b) close or close down

[intransitive/transitive] to stop doing business or operating permanently

The government plans to close 10 coal mines.

Small shops are closing because of competition from the large chains.

3) [transitive] to stop people or vehicles from entering or leaving a place, using a road etc

They have closed their border with Albania.

close something to something:

There is a proposal to close the park to traffic.

close something for something:

The bridge will have to be closed for repairs.

4)

a) [intransitive/transitive] if something such as a discussion, activity, or event closes, or if you close it, it ends

Can we close this matter and move on?

Her latest Broadway show closed after only three performances.

close with:

The letter closes with an appeal for money.

close something by doing something:

He closed the meeting by thanking everyone for coming.

close a case (= end an investigation):

The police are closing the case because of a lack of evidence.

b) [intransitive] if something such as an offer closes, it stops being available

5) close or close down

[intransitive/transitive] if a computer program closes, or if you close it, it stops operating and disappears from your computer screen

6) close or close up

[intransitive/transitive] to reduce the distance or difference between people or things close on:

Williams was leading but the other runners were closing on him fast.

close the gap between:

Closing the gap between rich and poor would help to improve the health of the nation.

7) [transitive] business to stop having an account with a bank, shop etc

We closed our bank account and opened a new one online.

8) [transitive] business to successfully complete the arrangements for a business deal

He had to lower the price to close the sale.

9) [intransitive/transitive] to put or have your fingers, hands, or arms around someone or something

close around/over:

Her hand closed tightly over his.

10) [intransitive] business to have a particular value when people stop buying and selling on a stock exchange at the end of a day

11) close or close up

[intransitive/transitive] if you close a wound (= injury or cut in your skin), or if it closes, the edges join and the skin becomes healthy again

12) [transitive] to make a connection in an electric circuit

•

- close the book on something

- close your ears to something

- close your eyes to something

- close your mind to something

- close ranks

Phrasal verbs:

- close down

- close in

- close off

- close up

II UK [kləʊs] / US [kloʊs] adjective
Word forms "close":
adjective close comparative closer superlative closest
***

1) only a short distance away, or separated by only a short distance

We can walk to the swimming pool – it's quite close.

close to:

The hotel is close to the centre of town.

close together:

He had a cruel face with eyes that were too close together.

close proximity:

The area is in close proximity to a huge shopping centre.

at close quarters/range:

He had observed President Roosevelt at close quarters and absorbed many of his techniques.

close work (= done only a short distance from your eyes):

I only need my glasses for close work such as sewing.

2) only a short time away, or separated by only a short time

close to:

You can't go to the party; it's too close to your exams.

close together:

The two bank holidays are quite close together in May.

3) likely to happen soon or to do something soon

Everyone believes that a peace deal is close.

close to tears/collapse/death:

By the end of the race he was close to collapse.

close to doing something:

We're closer to signing a contract after today's meeting.

4) careful and involving attention to every detail

I'll take a closer look at your homework tomorrow.

close scrutiny/examination/inspection:

Fowler's research has come under close scrutiny.

keep a close eye/watch on:

The local police kept a close eye on his activities.

5) similar to someone or something else but not exactly the same

That's not exactly the colour I want, but it's close.

close to:

The sensation is close to the feeling of floating.

bear a close resemblance to someone/something:

She bears a close resemblance to her mother.

the closest (thing) to something:

That's the closest thing to an apology you're going to get from Drew.

6)

a) connected by shared interests and shared feelings such as love and respect

My brother and I are very close.

Jamal and I have been close friends since we were six.

close to:

She's close to both her parents.

b) used about relationships

close family ties

a close personal relationship

7) related to you directly, for example by being your parent, child, brother, or sister

He has no close relatives.

8)

a) directly involved with someone and communicating with them a lot, especially as part of your job

a close business associate

close to:

Sources close to the Prime Minister say he is ready to make a deal.

b) used about activities or relationships

We've always worked in close cooperation with the local authority.

in close contact/touch (with someone):

We don't share an office any more, but we still keep in close contact.

9) spoken nearly correct

"I'd say you were about 35." "You're close! I'm 37."

10) if something is close to a particular amount, number, level etc, it is almost that amount, number, level etc

close to:

Unemployment on the island is close to 12 per cent.

11) won or settled by only a few points, votes etc

The game was close, but Real Madrid eventually won.

The next election will be a close contest.

a close second/third/fourth etc:

Irvine won the race, with Schumacher a close second.

12) spoken used for saying that you have just succeeded in avoiding a dangerous or unpleasant situation

That was close! We would've been in trouble if you hadn't swerved.

13) warm and uncomfortable because there does not seem to be enough fresh air

14) a close haircut or shave is very short and almost to the level of the skin

15) [only before noun] protected, watched, or guarded in a very careful and strict way

a close secret

The boys are being kept under close supervision for the rest of the term.

16) not willing to spend your money or give any to anyone

17) not willing to share information about yourself or your emotions

•

a close call/shave/thing — mainly spoken a dangerous or unpleasant situation that you have just succeeded in avoiding

- close, but no cigar

- close to home

- too close for comfort

- too close to call

See:

bone I, closely, heart

Derived word:
closeness
noun uncountable

Given the closeness of the school, you should be able to walk there.

Joe was jealous of the closeness between his mother and his younger brother.

III UK [kləʊs] / US [kloʊs] adverb
Word forms "close":
comparative closer superlative closest
***

1) only a short distance away

She moved closer, trying to hear what Jack was saying.

close to:

He clutched his bag close to his chest.

Mark was standing dangerously close to the edge of the cliff.

close together:

They lay close together on the beach.

close behind:

Mary went first, with Jill close behind.

draw/hold someone close (= pullhold them against your body):

He drew me close and hugged me tightly.

close by/close at hand:

We didn't need to worry because help was close at hand.

2) only a short time away

As the summer grew closer, we started to think about leaving.

•

close on/to something — almost a particular amount, number, level etc

Inflation is now running at close to 4%.

come close (to) — to be similar to or almost as good as someone or something

He's not as good as Amis, but he comes close.

come close to (doing) something — to nearly do something

I came close to giving up several times.

- close up

- run someone close

See:

card I

IV UK [kləʊz] / US [kloʊz] noun [singular] *

the end of something such as a period of time, event, or activity

close of:

towards the close of the 18th century

at the close of business/trading:

Shares were unchanged at 48p at the close of business today.

draw/come to a close:

The event occurred at the time when the Stone Age was drawing to a close.

bring/draw/call something to a close:

I will do anything to help bring this matter to a close.

It's time to call this meeting to a close.

V UK [kləʊs] / US [kloʊs] noun [countable]
Word forms "close":
singular close plural closes British

1)

a) a street consisting of private houses at the end of which the road stops

b) Close used in street names

Appian Close

2) the area around a cathedral including the buildings belonging to it