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     I. (noun) 

    Sense 1

    Meaning:

    The concluding part of any performanceplay

    Synonyms:

    close; closing curtain; finale; finis

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting acts or actions

    Hypernyms ("close" is a kind of...):

    finish; finishing (the act of finishing)

    Derivation:

    close (come to a close)

    Sense 2

    Meaning:

    The last section of a communicationplay

    Example:

    in conclusion I want to say...

    Synonyms:

    close; closing; conclusion; end; ending

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

    Hypernyms ("close" is a kind of...):

    section; subdivision (a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical))

    Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "close"):

    anticlimax; bathos (a change from a serious subject to a disappointing one)

    epilog; epilogue (a short passage added at the end of a literary work)

    epilog; epilogue (a short speech (often in verse) addressed directly to the audience by an actor at the end of a play)

    peroration ((rhetoric) the concluding section of an oration)

    coda; finale (the closing section of a musical composition)

    Holonyms ("close" is a part of...):

    narration; recital; yarn (the act of giving an account describing incidents or a course of events)

    address; speech (the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience)

    Sense 3

    Meaning:

    The temporal end; the concluding timeplay

    Example:

    they were playing better at the close of the season

    Synonyms:

    close; conclusion; finale; finis; finish; last; stopping point

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting time and temporal relations

    Hypernyms ("close" is a kind of...):

    end; ending (the point in time at which something ends)

    Derivation:

    close (finish or terminate (meetings, speeches, etc.))

    close (cease to operate or cause to cease operating)

    close (come to a close)

     II. (adjective) 

    Comparative and superlative

    Comparative: closer  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation

    Superlative: closest  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation

    Sense 1

    Meaning:

    Marked by fidelity to an originalplay

    Example:

    a faithful rendering of the observed facts

    Synonyms:

    close; faithful

    Classified under:

    Adjectives

    Similar:

    accurate (conforming exactly or almost exactly to fact or to a standard or performing with total accuracy)

    Sense 2

    Meaning:

    Rigorously attentive; strict and thoroughplay

    Example:

    kept a close watch on expenditures

    Classified under:

    Adjectives

    Similar:

    careful (exercising caution or showing care or attention)

    Sense 3

    Meaning:

    Not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstancesplay

    Example:

    had a close call

    Synonyms:

    close; near; nigh

    Classified under:

    Adjectives

    Similar:

    adjacent (near or close to but not necessarily touching)

    nearby (close at hand)

    warm (of a seeker; near to the object sought)

    hot (of a seeker; very near to the object sought)

    Attribute:

    distance (the property created by the space between two objects or points)

    Derivation:

    closeness (the spatial property resulting from a relatively small distance)

    Sense 4

    Meaning:

    At or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each otherplay

    Example:

    a close formation of ships

    Classified under:

    Adjectives

    Similar:

    walk-to; walking (close enough to be walked to)

    scalelike (reduced to a small appressed thing that resembles a scale)

    proximate (very close in space or time)

    nestled; snuggled (drawn or pressed close to someone or something for or as if for affection or protection)

    juxtaposed (placed side by side often for comparison)

    hand-to-hand (being at close quarters)

    enveloping (surrounding and closing in on or hemming in)

    circumferent; encompassing; surrounding (closely encircling)

    contiguous; immediate (very close or connected in space or time)

    close-set; close set (set close together)

    close-hauled (having the sails trimmed for sailing as close to the wind as possible)

    at hand; close at hand (close in space; within reach)

    at hand; close at hand; imminent; impendent; impending (close in time; about to occur)

    approximate; close together (located close together)

    adpressed; appressed (pressed close to or lying flat against something)

    ambient (completely enveloping)

    adjacent; next; side by side (nearest in space or position; immediately adjoining without intervening space)

    Attribute:

    distance (the property created by the space between two objects or points)

    Antonym:

    distant (separated in space or coming from or going to a distance)

    Derivation:

    closeness (the spatial property resulting from a relatively small distance)

    Sense 5

    Meaning:

    Close in relevance or relationshipplay

    Example:

    a close resemblance

    Classified under:

    Adjectives

    Similar:

    intimate (marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity)

    familiar; intimate (having mutual interests or affections; of established friendship)

    dear; good; near (with or in a close or intimate relationship)

    cozy (suggesting connivance)

    confidential (denoting confidence or intimacy)

    close-knit; closely knit (held together as by social or cultural ties)

    buddy-buddy; chummy; thick ((used informally) associated on close terms)

    boon (very close and convivial)

    approximate; near (very close in resemblance)

    Antonym:

    distant (far apart in relevance or relationship or kinship)

    Derivation:

    closeness (a feeling of being intimate and belonging together)

    Sense 6

    Meaning:

    Inclined to secrecy or reticence about divulging informationplay

    Example:

    although they knew her whereabouts her friends kept close about it

    Synonyms:

    close; closelipped; closemouthed; secretive; tightlipped

    Classified under:

    Adjectives

    Similar:

    incommunicative; uncommunicative (not inclined to talk or give information or express opinions)

    Derivation:

    closeness (characterized by a lack of openness (especially about one's actions or purposes))

    Sense 7

    Meaning:

    Crowdedplay

    Example:

    close quarters

    Synonyms:

    close; confining

    Classified under:

    Adjectives

    Similar:

    confined (not free to move about)

    Sense 8

    Meaning:

    (of a contest or contestants) evenly matchedplay

    Example:

    a tight game

    Synonyms:

    close; tight

    Classified under:

    Adjectives

    Similar:

    equal (having the same quantity, value, or measure as another)

    Sense 9

    Meaning:

    Giving or spending with reluctanceplay

    Example:

    a penny-pinching miserly old man

    Synonyms:

    cheeseparing; close; near; penny-pinching; skinny

    Classified under:

    Adjectives

    Similar:

    stingy; ungenerous (unwilling to spend (money, time, resources, etc.))

    Derivation:

    closeness (extreme stinginess)

    Sense 10

    Meaning:

    Used of hair or haircutsplay

    Example:

    a close military haircut

    Classified under:

    Adjectives

    Similar:

    short ((primarily spatial sense) having little length or lacking in length)

    Sense 11

    Meaning:

    Fitting closely but comfortablyplay

    Example:

    a close fit

    Synonyms:

    close; close-fitting; snug

    Classified under:

    Adjectives

    Similar:

    tight (closely constrained or constricted or constricting)

    Sense 12

    Meaning:

    Confined to specific personsplay

    Example:

    a close secret

    Classified under:

    Adjectives

    Similar:

    private (confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy)

    Sense 13

    Meaning:

    Strictly confined or guardedplay

    Example:

    kept under close custody

    Classified under:

    Adjectives

    Similar:

    restrained (under restraint)

    Sense 14

    Meaning:

    Of textilesplay

    Example:

    smooth percale with a very tight weave

    Synonyms:

    close; tight

    Classified under:

    Adjectives

    Similar:

    fine (of textures that are smooth to the touch or substances consisting of relatively small particles)

    Sense 15

    Meaning:

    Lacking fresh airplay

    Example:

    hot and stuffy and the air was blue with smoke

    Synonyms:

    airless; close; stuffy; unaired

    Classified under:

    Adjectives

    Similar:

    unventilated (not ventilated)

     III. (verb) 

    Verb forms

    Present simple: I / you / we / they close ... he / she / it closes  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation

    Past simple: closed  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation

    Past participle: closed  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation

    -ing form: closing  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation

    Sense 1

    Meaning:

    Finish a game in baseball by protecting a leadplay

    Example:

    The relief pitcher closed with two runs in the second inning

    Classified under:

    Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

    Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

    complete; finish (come or bring to a finish or an end)

    Sentence frame:

    Somebody ----s

    Sense 2

    Meaning:

    Complete a business deal, negotiation, or an agreementplay

    Example:

    They closed the deal on the building

    Classified under:

    Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

    Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

    end; terminate (bring to an end or halt)

    Sentence frames:

    Somebody ----s
    Somebody ----s something

    Sense 3

    Meaning:

    Unite or bring into contact or bring together the edges ofplay

    Example:

    close up an umbrella

    Synonyms:

    close; close up

    Classified under:

    Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

    Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

    join (cause to become joined or linked)

    Sentence frame:

    Somebody ----s something

    Derivation:

    closing (approaching a particular destination; a coming closer; a narrowing of a gap)

    Sense 4

    Meaning:

    Move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shutplay

    Example:

    shut the window

    Synonyms:

    close; shut

    Classified under:

    Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

    Cause:

    close; shut (become closed)

    Verb group:

    close; shut (become closed)

    Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "close"):

    seal; seal off (make tight; secure against leakage)

    bung (close with a cork or stopper)

    roll up (close (a car window) by causing it to move up, as with a handle)

    draw (move or pull so as to cover or uncover something)

    shutter (close with shutters)

    bang; slam (close violently)

    slat (close the slats of (windows))

    snap (close with a snapping motion)

    Sentence frames:

    Somebody ----s something
    Something ----s something

    Sentence example:

    They want to close the doors


    Antonym:

    open (cause to open or to become open)

    Derivation:

    closing (the act of closing something)

    closure (the act of blocking)

    Sense 5

    Meaning:

    Become closedplay

    Example:

    The windows closed with a loud bang

    Synonyms:

    close; shut

    Classified under:

    Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

    Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

    change state; turn (undergo a transformation or a change of position or action)

    Verb group:

    close; shut (move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut)

    Sentence frame:

    Something ----s

    Sentence example:

    The doors close


    Antonym:

    open (become open)

    Derivation:

    closing (the act of closing something)

    Sense 6

    Meaning:

    Fill or stop upplay

    Example:

    Can you close the cracks with caulking?

    Synonyms:

    close; fill up

    Classified under:

    Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

    Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

    fill (plug with a substance)

    Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "close"):

    seal (close with or as if with a seal)

    plug; secure; stop up (fill or close tightly with or as if with a plug)

    coapt; conglutinate (cause to adhere)

    Sentence frame:

    Somebody ----s something

    Derivation:

    closure (the act of blocking)

    closing (the act of closing something)

    Sense 7

    Meaning:

    Bar access toplay

    Example:

    Due to the accident, the road had to be closed for several hours

    Classified under:

    Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

    Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

    bar; barricade; block; block off; block up; blockade; stop (render unsuitable for passage)

    Sentence frame:

    Somebody ----s something

    Derivation:

    closing (the act of closing something)

    closure (the act of blocking)

    Sense 8

    Meaning:

    Bring together all the elements or parts ofplay

    Example:

    Management closed ranks

    Classified under:

    Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

    Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

    join (cause to become joined or linked)

    Sentence frames:

    Somebody ----s something
    Somebody ----s somebody
    Something ----s somebody
    Something ----s something

    Sense 9

    Meaning:

    Draw nearplay

    Example:

    The probe closed with the space station

    Classified under:

    Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

    Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

    approach; come near; come on; draw close; draw near; go up; near (move towards)

    Sentence frames:

    Something ----s
    Somebody ----s

    Derivation:

    closing; closure (approaching a particular destination; a coming closer; a narrowing of a gap)

    Sense 10

    Meaning:

    Come together, as if in an embraceplay

    Example:

    Her arms closed around her long lost relative

    Synonyms:

    close; come together

    Classified under:

    Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

    Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

    move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

    Sentence frame:

    Something is ----ing PP

    Sense 11

    Meaning:

    Change one's body stance so that the forward shoulder and foot are closer to the intended point of impactplay

    Classified under:

    Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

    Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

    move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)

    Domain category:

    ball game; ballgame (a field game played with a ball (especially baseball))

    Sentence frame:

    Somebody ----s

    Sense 12

    Meaning:

    Cause a window or an application to disappear on a computer desktopplay

    Classified under:

    Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

    Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

    end; terminate (be the end of; be the last or concluding part of)

    Sentence frame:

    Somebody ----s something

    Antonym:

    open (display the contents of a file or start an application as on a computer)

    Derivation:

    closing (the act of closing something)

    closure (termination of operations)

    Sense 13

    Meaning:

    Engage at close quartersplay

    Example:

    close with the enemy

    Classified under:

    Verbs of political and social activities and events

    Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

    engage; prosecute; pursue (carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in)

    Sentence frame:

    Somebody ----s PP

    Derivation:

    closing (approaching a particular destination; a coming closer; a narrowing of a gap)

    Sense 14

    Meaning:

    Finish or terminate (meetings, speeches, etc.)play

    Example:

    The meeting was closed with a charge by the chairman of the board

    Classified under:

    Verbs of political and social activities and events

    Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

    end; terminate (bring to an end or halt)

    Sentence frames:

    Somebody ----s something
    Something ----s something

    Antonym:

    open (begin or set in action, of meetings, speeches, recitals, etc.)

    Derivation:

    closure (termination of operations)

    closing (a concluding action)

    close (the temporal end; the concluding time)

    Sense 15

    Meaning:

    Cease to operate or cause to cease operatingplay

    Example:

    close up the shop

    Synonyms:

    close; close down; close up; fold; shut down

    Classified under:

    Verbs of political and social activities and events

    Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "close"):

    adjourn; retire; withdraw (break from a meeting or gathering)

    Sentence frames:

    Something ----s
    Somebody ----s something

    Sentence example:

    The business is going to close


    Antonym:

    open (start to operate or function or cause to start operating or functioning)

    Derivation:

    close (the temporal end; the concluding time)

    closer (a person who closes something)

    closing; closure (termination of operations)

    Sense 16

    Meaning:

    Come to a closeplay

    Example:

    The concert closed with a nocturne by Chopin

    Synonyms:

    close; conclude

    Classified under:

    Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

    Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

    cease; end; finish; stop; terminate (have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense; either spatial or metaphorical)

    Sentence frames:

    Something ----s
    Something is ----ing PP

    Derivation:

    closing (the last section of a communication)

    closing (a concluding action)

    close (the temporal end; the concluding time)

    close (the concluding part of any performance)

    Sense 17

    Meaning:

    Be priced or listed when trading stopsplay

    Example:

    My new stocks closed at $59 last night

    Classified under:

    Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

    Hypernyms (to "close" is one way to...):

    trade (be traded at a certain price or under certain conditions)

    Sentence frame:

    Something is ----ing PP

     IV. (adverb) 

    Sense 1

    Meaning:

    Near in time or place or relationshipplay

    Example:

    don't get too close to the fire

    Synonyms:

    close; near; nigh

    Classified under:

    Adverbs

    Sense 2

    Meaning:

    In an attentive mannerplay

    Example:

    he remained close on his guard

    Synonyms:

    close; closely; tight

    Classified under:

    Adverbs

    Credits

     Context examples: 

    He walked nearer than a hundred paces to it, and yet he did not become fixed as before, but found that he could go quite close up to the door.

    (Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

    “Three shots were fired on this side. I saw the three flashes—two close together—one farther to the west.”

    (Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

    By ten o’clock, when the shops were closed, the by-street was very solitary and, in spite of the low growl of London from all round, very silent.

    (The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

    Holmes leaned back in his chair with half-closed eyes.

    (His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

    Heavy misfortunes have befallen us, but let us only cling closer to what remains and transfer our love for those whom we have lost to those who yet live.

    (Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

    Close by the stern stood Black Simon with the pennon of the house of Loring.

    (The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

    On the other hand, a touch of madness, real or assumed, was a passport through doors which were closed to wisdom and to virtue.

    (Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

    Though astronomers are uncertain of the shape and temperature of coronas, they know that they contain particles that move close to the speed of light.

    (NuSTAR sees rare blurring of black hole light, NASA)

    However, on closer inspection, the tail was apparent.

    (Dinosaur Tail Found in Myanmar, VOA News)

    In some cases, the deaths are a result of carbon starvation, in which trees close their pores, essentially starving themselves by blocking the entry of carbon, which is needed for photosynthesis.

    (What's killing trees during droughts?, National Science Foundation)


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