Толковый словарь английского языка Oxford English Reference - close

1. adj., adv., & n. --adj. 1 (often foll. by to) situated at only a short distance or interval. 2 a having a strong or immediate relation or connection (close friend; close relative). b in intimate friendship or association (were very close). c corresponding almost exactly (close resemblance). d fitting tightly (close cap). e (of hair etc.) short, near the surface. 3 in or almost in contact (close combat; close proximity). 4 dense, compact, with no or only slight intervals (close texture; close writing; close formation; close thicket). 5 in which competitors are almost equal (close contest; close election). 6 leaving no gaps or weaknesses, rigorous (close reasoning). 7 concentrated, searching (close examination; close attention). 8 (of air etc.) stuffy or humid. 9 closed, shut. 10 limited or restricted to certain persons etc. (close corporation; close scholarship). 11 a hidden, secret, covered. b secretive. 12 (of a danger etc.) directly threatening, narrowly avoided (that was close). 13 niggardly. 14 (of a vowel) pronounced with a relatively narrow opening of the mouth. 15 narrow, confined, contracted. 16 under prohibition. --adv. 1 (often foll. by by, on, to, upon) at only a short distance or interval (they live close by; close to the church). 2 closely, in a close manner (shut close). --n. 1 an enclosed space. 2 Brit. a street closed at one end. 3 Brit. the precinct of a cathedral. 4 Brit. a school playing-field or playground. 5 Sc. an entry from the street to a common stairway or to a court at the back. Phrases and idioms at close quarters very close together. close-fisted niggardly. close-fitting (of a garment) fitting close to the body. close-grained without gaps between fibres etc. close harmony harmony in which the notes of the chord are close together. close-hauled (of a ship) with the sails hauled aft to sail close to the wind. close-knit tightly bound or interlocked; closely united in friendship. close-mouthed reticent. close score Mus. a score with more than one part on the same staff. close season Brit. the season when something, esp. the killing of game etc., is illegal. close-set separated only by a small interval or intervals. close shave colloq. a narrow escape. close to the wind see WIND(1). close-up 1 a photograph etc. taken at close range and showing the subject on a large scale. 2 an intimate description. go close (of a racehorse) win or almost win. Derivatives closely adv. closeness n. closish adj. Etymology: ME f. OF clos f. L clausum enclosure & clausus past part. of claudere shut 2. v. & n. --v. 1 a tr. shut (a lid, box, door, room, house, etc.). b intr. be shut (the door closed slowly). c tr. block up. 2 a tr. & intr. bring or come to an end. b intr. finish speaking (closed with an expression of thanks). c tr. settle (a bargain etc.). 3 a intr. end the day's business. b tr. end the day's business at (a shop, office, etc.). 4 tr. & intr. bring or come closer or into contact (close ranks). 5 tr. make (an electric circuit etc.) continuous. 6 intr. (foll. by with) express agreement (with an offer, terms, or the person offering them). 7 intr. (often foll. by with) come within striking distance; grapple. 8 intr. (foll. by on) (of a hand, box, etc.) grasp or entrap. --n. 1 a conclusion, an end. 2 Mus. a cadence. Phrases and idioms close down 1 (of a shop, factory, etc.) discontinue business, esp. permanently. 2 Brit. (of a broadcasting station) end transmission esp. until the next day. close one's eyes 1 (foll. by to) pay no attention. 2 die. close in 1 enclose. 2 come nearer. 3 (of days) get successively shorter with the approach of the winter solstice. close out US discontinue, terminate, dispose of (a business). close up 1 (often foll. by to) move closer. 2 shut, esp. temporarily. 3 block up. 4 (of an aperture) grow smaller. 5 coalesce. closing-time the time at which a public house, shop, etc., ends business. Derivatives closable adj. closer n. Etymology: ME f. OF clos- stem of clore f. L claudere shut