nɪə adv.,
prep.,
adj., & v. --adv. 1 (often foll. by to) to or at a
short distance in
space or
time; close by (the time
drew near; dropped near to them). 2 closely (as near as
one can guess). 3
archaic almost,
nearly (very near died). 4 archaic parsimoniously; meanly (lives
very near). --prep. (compar. & superl.
also used) 1 to or at a short distance (in space, time,
condition, or resemblance)
from (stood near
the back; occurs nearer the
end; the
sun is near setting). 2 (in comb.) a
that is almost (near-hysterical; a near-Communist). b
intended as a
substitute for; resembling (near-beer). --adj. 1 (usu. predic.) close at
hand; close
to, in
place or time (the
man nearest
you; in the near future). 2 a closely
related (a near relation). b intimate (a near friend). 3 (of a
part of a
vehicle,
animal, or road) left (the near
fore leg; near
side front wheel (orig. of the side from
which one mounted)) (opp. OFF). 4 close;
narrow (a near
escape; a near guess). 5 (of a road or way)
direct. 6
niggardly, mean. --v. 1 tr.
approach;
draw near to (neared the harbour). 2 intr. draw near (could
distinguish them as
they neared). øcome (or go) near (foll. by
verbal noun, or to + verbal noun) be on the
point of, almost
succeed in (came near to falling). go near (foll. by to + infin.) narrowly
fail. near at hand 1
within easy reach. 2 in the
immediate future. the Near
East the
region comprising the countries of the
eastern Mediterranean. Near Eastern of the Near East. near go colloq. a narrow escape. near the
knuckle colloq. verging on the
indecent. near miss 1 (of a
bomb etc.) close to the
target. 2 a
situation in which a
collision is narrowly avoided. 3 (of an attempt) almost but
not quite successful. near
sight esp. US = short sight. near
thing a narrow escape. near
upon archaic not
far in time from. øønearish adj. nearness n. [ME f. ON
nór, orig. compar. of
nÁ = OE neah NIGH]
