close
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• adjective
Located a short distance away in space or time; near.
"The library is quite close to the train station."
Bound by strong mutual affection, trust, or familiarity; intimate.
"They have remained close friends since their university days."
Won or decided by only a very small margin; nearly equal in contest.
"The championship game was a close contest right down to the final seconds."
Thorough, rigorous, and paying strict attention to detail.
"A close examination of the financial records revealed several discrepancies."
Lacking fresh air or ventilation; uncomfortably humid, warm, and stuffy.
"The air in the crowded basement felt oppressively close before the storm broke."
• verb
To cease operations, commerce, or public access, either temporarily at the end of a workday or permanently.
"The museum closes at five o'clock on weekdays."
To move or position something so as to cover an opening or prevent passage; to shut.
"Please close the window before the rain starts blowing inside."
To bring or come to a conclusion or end.
"The chairperson closed the meeting by summarizing the key action items."
To finalize and complete a business transaction, contract, or financial agreement.
"After weeks of negotiation, the real estate agent successfully closed the deal."
To reduce or eliminate a gap, distance, or difference between two things or points.
"New educational initiatives aim to close the achievement gap between urban and rural schools."
• adverb
At or to a very short distance away; in close proximity.
"The young deer stayed close behind its mother as they crossed the meadow."
• noun
The conclusion, termination, or end of a period of time, an event, or an activity.
"As the conference drew to a close, the organizers thanked all the keynote speakers."
British An enclosed precinct surrounding a cathedral or abbey, or a residential street that is closed at one end (a cul-de-sac).
"The historic houses lining the cathedral close have been preserved for centuries."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Close' is a heteronym: when used as a verb or a noun denoting an ending, the 's' is pronounced with a voiced /z/ sound, whereas when used as an adjective, adverb, or architectural noun (an enclosed precinct), the 's' is pronounced with an unvoiced /s/ sound.
• Rhymes for close
Word Origin & Etymology
Middle English, borrowed from Old French clore ('to shut') and its past participle clos, which derive from Latin claudere ('to shut, block, or conclude').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.