close

adjnear, nearby

adjdense, cramped
adjaccurate, precise
adjintimate
adjoppressive, humid
adjsecret, reserved
adjstingy
nounending
verbobstruct, seal
verbcomplete, finish, stop
verbjoin, unite

Word Origin & History

c.1200, "to shut, cover in," from Old French clos- (past participle stem of clore "to shut, to cut off from"), 12c., from Latin clausus, past participle of claudere "to shut, close; to block up, make inaccessible; put an end to; shut in, enclose, confine" (always -clusus, -cludere in compounds).

The Latin word might be from the possible PIE root *klau- "hook, peg, crooked or forked branch" (used as a bar or bolt in primitive structures); cf. Latin clavis "key," clavus "nail," claustrum "bar, bolt, barrier," claustra "dam, wall, barricade, stronghold;" Greek kleidos (genitive) "bar, bolt, key," klobos "cage;" Old Irish clo "nail," Middle Irish clithar "hedge, fence;" Old Church Slavonic ključi "hook, key," ključiti "shut;" Lithuanian kliuti "to catch, be caught on," kliaudziu "check, hinder," kliuvu "clasp, hang;" Old High German sliozan "shut," German schließen "to shut," Schlüssel "key."

Also partly from Old English beclysan "close in, shut up." Intransitive sense "become shut" is from late 14c. Meaning "draw near to" is from 1520s. Intransitive meaning "draw together, come together" is from 1550s, hence the idea in military verbal phrase close ranks (mid-17c.), later with figurative extensions. Meaning "bring to an end, finish" is from c.1400; intransitive sense "come to an end" is from 1826. Of stock prices, from 1860. Meaning "bring together the parts of" (a book, etc.) is from 1560s. Related: Closed; closing.

Example Sentences for close

He would not look at it, and when I threw it close to him he dashed it away as if it was poison.

I told the party we were now close, and showed them the low table-land just ahead.

Found a rock hole with about forty gallons of water in it close to camp.

In close connexion with the Survey and Lands Department is the topic of exploration.

The sixth day brought Andrew Lanning in close view of the lower hills.

We must now close our sketch of those diversified and pleasant volumes.

And not once during the hours before morning did he close his eyes.

Or, perhaps, he had no idea that the outlaws could be so close.

The time may be close at hand when we shall need this assurance as we need nothing else.

She would clasp him so close that evil should not touch him!

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adj near, nearby

close

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Scotch

accurate

achieve

achieved

achieving

adjacent

close

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.css-1unrqcp{color:inherit;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Scotch

accurate

achieve

achieved

achieving

adjacent

Scotch