close

close1 [ klouz ] verb ***

▸ 1 shut

▸ 2 when business stops

▸ 3 stop use of road etc.

▸ 4 end/finish

▸ 5 reduce distance

▸ 6 stop business relations

▸ 7 finish business deal

▸ 8 put fingers around something

▸ 9 have value at end of day

▸ 10 join edges of wound

▸ 11 connect electrically

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) intransitive or transitive if you close something or it closes, it moves to cover an open area:

Close the door quietly behind you.

Did the fridge door close completely?

I was just closing my eyes to go to sleep when the phone rang.

Her mouth closed after a moment and she said nothing.

a ) transitive to move together the parts of something that was spread to its full size:

Nick closed his book and put it down.

Closing the umbrella, she ran for the car.

2. ) intransitive or transitive to stop doing business at regular times or temporarily:

We close the office at noon Fridays.

Snow forced both airports to close.

close for: We will close for our annual inventory next week.

close on: The Blue Café closes on Mondays.

a ) close or close down intransitive or transitive to stop doing business or operating permanently:

The company plans to close 10 coal mines.

Small stores are closing because of competition from the large chains.

3. ) transitive to stop people or vehicles from entering or leaving a place, using a road, etc.:

They have closed their border with Albania.

close something to something: There is a proposal to close the park to traffic.

close something for something: The bridge will have to be closed for repairs.

4. ) intransitive or transitive if something such as a discussion, activity, or event closes, or you close it, it ends:

Can we close this matter and move on?

Her latest Broadway show closed after only 3 performances.

close with: The letter closes with an appeal for money.

close something by doing something: He closed the meeting by thanking everyone for coming.

close a case (=end an investigation): The police are closing the case because of a lack of evidence.

a ) close or close down intransitive or transitive COMPUTING if a computer program closes, or you close it, it stops operating and disappears from your computer screen

b ) intransitive if something such as an offer closes, it stops being available

5. ) close or close up intransitive or transitive to reduce the distance or difference between people or things:

close on: Williams was leading but the other runners were closing on him fast.

close the gap between: Closing the gap between rich and poor would help to improve the health of the nation.

6. ) transitive BUSINESS to stop having an account with a bank, store, etc.:

We closed our bank account and opened a new one online.

7. ) transitive BUSINESS to successfully complete the arrangements for a business deal:

He had to lower the price to close the sale.

8. ) intransitive or transitive close around/over to put or have your fingers, hands, or arms around someone or something:

Her hand closed tightly over his.

9. ) intransitive close at/up/down BUSINESS to have a particular value at the end of a day's buying and selling on a STOCK EXCHANGE

10. ) close or close up intransitive or transitive MEDICAL if you close a WOUND (=injury or cut in your skin) or it closes, the edges join and the skin becomes healthy again

11. ) transitive SCIENCE to make a connection in an electric CIRCUIT

close the book on something

1. ) to end something unpleasant that has been continuing for a long time

2. ) to stop working on something because you do not believe that you will achieve your aim

close your ears to something

1. ) to ignore what someone is telling you or asking you:

Don't close your ears to criticism.

2. ) to not listen to a noise or sound

close your eyes to something

to ignore something bad that is happening when you should be doing something to stop it:

The government cannot close its eyes to this disease.

close your mind to something

to refuse to consider something:

I tried to close my mind to what was happening.

close ranks

1. ) to join with a group to support and protect yourselves against someone outside your group who is criticizing or attacking you:

Her male colleagues closed ranks against her.

2. ) if soldiers close ranks, they stand nearer together in order to defend themselves better against an attack

,close `down phrasal verb

1. ) intransitive or transitive same as CLOSE1 2A:

Their intention is to close down the factory.

Restaurants are closing down all over the country.

2. ) intransitive or transitive same as CLOSE1 4A:

Close down all programs that are running before you install the software.

3. ) intransitive BRITISH to stop broadcasting at the end of a day's television or radio programs

,close `in phrasal verb intransitive

1. ) to move nearer to someone, especially in order to surround them:

Enemy troops began closing in at dawn.

close in on: The police finally closed in on Connors and captured him.

2. ) if the weather closes in, it becomes unpleasant

3. ) LITERARY if night or darkness closes in, it becomes night or gets darker

4. ) LITERARY if the days close in, there are fewer hours of light each day because Fall is starting

,close `off phrasal verb transitive

to prevent people from entering a place, using a road, etc.:

The police have closed off the road to traffic.

,close `out phrasal verb transitive AMERICAN

to sell a product at a low price in order to get rid of it:

The manufacturers decided to close out last year's model.

,close `up phrasal verb

1. ) intransitive or transitive to lock the doors of a building or business:

As the storm approached, everyone began closing up their businesses.

All the stores had closed up for the night.

2. ) intransitive or transitive to move people or things closer together:

The runners had closed up and were moving in a tight little pack.

3. ) intransitive or transitive same as CLOSE1 10:

The cut has closed up without a scar.

4. ) intransitive to refuse to talk about your true feelings or thoughts:

Why do you close up every time I mention your father?

close up shop AMERICAN

to stop an activity or close a business, either for a short time or permanently

close

close 2 [ klous ] adjective ***

▸ 1 only short distance away

▸ 2 only short time away

▸ 3 likely to happen soon

▸ 4 careful

▸ 5 similar but different

▸ 6 connected by feelings

▸ 7 related to you directly

▸ 8 involved with someone a lot

▸ 9 nearly correct

▸ 10 almost equal in amount

▸ 11 won by small amount

▸ 12 when danger is avoided

▸ 13 cut close to skin

▸ 14 guarded carefully

▸ 15 warm

▸ 16 not willing to spend

▸ 17 quiet about yourself

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) only a short distance away, or separated by only a short distance:

We can walk to the mall it's very close.

close to: The hotel is close to the historical district.

close together: He had a cruel face with eyes that were too close together.

close proximity: The neighborhood is in close proximity to a huge shopping center.

at close quarters/range (=from a very short distance away): He had observed President Roosevelt at close quarters and absorbed many of his techniques.

close work (=done only a short distance from your eyes): I only need my glasses for close work such as sewing.

2. ) only a short time away, or separated by only a short time:

close to: You can't go to the party; it's too close to your exams.

close together: The two festivals are very close together in May.

3. ) likely to happen soon or to do something soon:

Everyone believes that a peace deal is close.

close to tears/collapse/death: By the end of the race he was close to collapse.

close to doing something: We're closer to signing a contract after today's meeting.

4. ) careful and involving attention to every detail:

I'll take a closer look at your homework tomorrow.

close scrutiny/examination/inspection: Fowler's research has come under close scrutiny.

keep a close eye/watch on: The local police kept a close eye on his activities.

5. ) similar to someone or something else but not exactly the same:

That's not exactly the shade of blue, but it's close.

close to: The sensation is close to the feeling of floating.

bear a close resemblance to someone/something: She bears a close resemblance to her mother.

the closest (thing) to something: That's the closest thing to an apology you're going to get from Drew.

6. ) connected by shared interests and shared feelings such as love and respect:

My brother and I are very close.

Jamal and I have been close friends since we were six.

close to: She's close to both her parents.

a ) used about relationships:

close family ties

a close personal relationship

7. ) related to you directly, for example by being your parent, child, brother, or sister:

He has no close relatives.

8. ) directly involved with someone and communicating with them a lot, especially as part of your job:

a close business associate

close to: Sources close to the CEO say he is ready to make a deal.

a ) used about activities or relationships:

We've always worked in close cooperation with the FBI.

in close contact/touch (with someone): We don't share an office any more, but we still keep in close contact.

9. ) SPOKEN nearly correct:

I'd say you were about 35. You're close! I'm 37.

10. ) close to if something is close to a particular amount, number, level, etc., it is almost that amount, number, level, etc.:

Unemployment on the island is close to 12 percent.

11. ) won or settled by only a few points, votes, etc.:

The game was close, but Denver finally won in overtime.

The next congressional election will be a close contest in Ohio.

a close second/third/fourth etc.: Irvine won the race, with Schumacher a close second.

1

a ) too close to call if the result of a competition or election is too close to call, it is not clear who the winner is until the competition has ended or all the votes have been counted

12. ) SPOKEN used for saying that you have just succeeded in avoiding a dangerous or unpleasant situation:

That was close! We would've been in trouble if you hadn't swerved.

1

a ) a close call MAINLY SPOKEN a dangerous or unpleasant situation that you have just succeeded in avoiding

13. ) a close HAIRCUT or SHAVE is very short and almost to the level of the skin

14. ) only before noun protected, watched, or guarded in a very careful and strict way:

a close secret

The boys are being kept under close supervision for the rest of the semester.

15. ) warm and uncomfortable because there does not seem to be enough fresh air

16. ) not willing to spend your money or give any to anyone

17. ) not willing to share information about yourself or your emotions

close, but no cigar SPOKEN

used for telling someone that they have failed, although their attempt, guess, etc. was almost successful:

Are you a nurse? Close, but no cigar. I'm a doctor.

close to home

1. ) involving someone directly:

This problem is particularly close to home for many parents.

2. ) a remark or joke that is close to home makes you embarrassed or upset because it is closely related to your personal problems

too close for comfort

nearer to you or more likely to affect you than you would like:

Local people feel that the nuclear power plant is too close for comfort.

╾ close|ness noun uncount:

Given the closeness of the school, you should be able to walk there.

Joe was jealous of the closeness between his mother and his younger brother.

=> BONE1, HEART

close

close 3 [ klous ] adverb ***

1. ) only a short distance away:

She moved closer, trying to hear what Jack was saying.

close to: He clutched his bag close to his chest.

Mark was standing dangerously close to the edge of the cliff.

close behind: Mary went first, with Jill close behind.

close together: They lay close together on the beach.

draw/hold someone close (=pull/hold them against your body): He drew me close and hugged me tightly.

close by/close at hand: We didn't need to worry because help was close at hand.

2. ) only a short time away:

As the summer grew closer, we started to think about leaving.

close to something

almost a particular amount, number, level, etc.:

Inflation is now running at close to 4%.

close up/up close

at, to, or from only a short distance away:

I didn't see his face close up.

come close (to something)

to be similar to or almost as good as something or someone:

He's not as good as Amis, but he comes close.

come close to (doing) something

to nearly do something:

I came close to giving up several times.

=> CARD1

close

close 4 [ klouz ] noun singular *

the end of something such as a period of time, event, or activity:

close of: toward the close of the 18th century

at the close of business/trading: Stocks were unchanged at $1.45 at the close of business today.

draw/come to a close: The event occurred at the time when the Stone Age was drawing to a close.

bring/draw/call something to a close: I will do anything to help bring this matter to a close.

It's time to call this meeting to a close.

close

close 5 [ klous ] noun count BRITISH

1. ) the area around a CATHEDRAL including the buildings belonging to it

2. ) a street consisting of private houses at the end of which the road stops

a ) used in street names:

Appian Close