close
/ˈkloʊ̯z/ verb A1- To move a thing, or part of a thing, nearer to another so that the gap or opening between the two is removed. · Close the door behind you when you leave.· Many flowers close at night.
- To obstruct or block. · They closed the road for the festival.· Ice has closed the channel to shipping.
- To become denser or more crowded with objects. · As we penetrated further, the forest closed around us.
- To make or become unreceptive. · He has closed his mind to new ideas.
- To move to a position preventing fluid from flowing.
- To move to a position allowing electricity to flow.
- To grapple; to engage in close combat. · 1856-1858, William H. Prescott, History of the Reign of Phillip II They boldly closed in a hand-to-hand contest.
- To angle (a club, bat or other hitting implement) downwards and/or (for a right-hander) anticlockwise of straight.
Plural close · He/she/it closes · Past closed · Past participle closed · -ing form closing
Verb forms
- Base form
- close
- He/she/it
- closes
- Past
- closed
- Past participle
- closed
- -ing form
- closing
Phrasal verbs and expressions
From the library
She came close to Dorothy and kissed her gently on the forehead.
She closed the door, locked it, and put the key carefully in the pocket of her dress.
In spite of the swaying of the house and the wailing of the wind, Dorothy soon closed her eyes and fell fast asleep.
One glance told her of the danger close at hand.
Other matches
- close At little distance A1
- close So as to leave or create little distance or spa... B1
- close Private fenced land, such as a paddock, orchard... C2
- close An end or conclusion. C2
- close down To stop trading as a business.
- close in To enclose, lock up inside something.
- close off To seal or block the entrance to a road, an are...
- close out To terminate
Learn close in real texts
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