close

I. close¹ S1 W1 /kləʊz $ kloʊz/ BrE AmE verb
[Word Family: noun: close, ↑closure, ↑closing; adjective: ↑closed, ↑closing; verb: ↑close]
[Word Family: adverb: ↑close, ↑closely; verb: ↑close; noun: ↑closeness; adjective: ↑close]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: clos, past participle of clore 'to close', from Latin claudere]
1. SHUT [intransitive and transitive] to shut something in order to cover an opening, or to become shut in this way SYN shut OPP open ⇨ closed:
Would you mind if I closed the window?
She closed the curtains.
Let me do the car door – it won’t close properly.
Beth closed her eyes and tried to sleep.
She heard the door close behind her.
2. MOVE PARTS TOGETHER [intransitive and transitive] to move the parts of something together so that there is no longer a space between them:
Anne closed her book and stood up.
3. SHUT FOR PERIOD OF TIME [intransitive and transitive] (also close up) if a shop or building closes, or you close it, it stops being open to the public for a period of time OPP open SYN shut British English ⇨ closed:
The shops close at six.
Harry usually closes the store completely when he goes on vacation.
4. STOP OPERATING [intransitive and transitive] (also close down) if a company, shop etc closes, or you close it, it stops operating permanently SYN shut down ⇨ closed:
We have reluctantly decided to close the factory.
The shop closed down some time last year.
5. END [intransitive and transitive] to end or to make something end, especially in a particular way
close something with/by etc
I will now close the meeting by asking you to join me in a final toast.
close with
The movie closes with an emotional reunion in Prague.
closing remarks (=something you say at the end of a speech)
In her closing remarks, the judge urged the jury to consider the facts only.
6. close an account to stop having and using a bank account or other financial account:
My husband closed all my credit card accounts without even asking me.
7. IN MONEY MARKETS [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] to be worth a particular amount of money at the end of a day’s ↑trading (=the buying and selling of shares) on the ↑stock exchange
close at
The dollar closed at 64p against the pound.close up/down
Their shares closed 27p up (=worth 27p more).
8. close a deal/sale/contract etc to successfully agree a business deal, sale etc
9. OFFER FINISHES [intransitive] to finish on a particular date SYN end:
Our special offer closes on June 3.
10. MAKE DISTANCE/DIFFERENCE SMALLER [intransitive and transitive] to make the distance or difference between two things smaller:
an attempt to close the gap between the rich and poor
close on
The other car was closing on us fast.
11. MAKE SOMETHING UNAVAILABLE [intransitive and transitive] to make taking part in an activity or using an opportunity no longer possible ⇨ closed:
Bidding for the painting will close on Friday.
The country has now closed its borders to all foreign nationals (=will not let foreigners in).
The legislation aims to close a lot of legal loopholes.
12. be closed if a subject is closed, you are no longer willing to discuss it:
It was a regrettable incident but I now consider the matter closed.
13. close your doors (to somebody) to stop operating permanently:
In 1977 the Skyfame Aircraft Museum closed its doors to the public for the last time.
14. close your mind to/against something to refuse to think about something:
She wanted to close her mind to the outside world.
15. HOLD SOMETHING [intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive] if someone’s hands, arms etc close around something, or are closed around something, they hold it firmly
close (something) around/round/over etc something
Her left hand closed over his arm.
She closed her hand tightly around her bag.
16. WOUND [intransitive and transitive] (also close up) if a wound closes, or if someone closes it, the edges grow together again or are sewn together:
The surgeon closed the incision neatly.
17. close ranks
a) if people close ranks, they join together to protect each other, especially because their group, organization etc is being criticized
b) if soldiers close ranks, they stand closer together
18. close the book on something to stop working on something, especially a police operation, because it is not making any progress:
Detectives had closed the book on the Hornsey Murders case three years previously.
⇨ ↑closing date, ↑closing time, ⇨ close/shut the door on something at ↑door(9), ⇨ close your eyes to something at ↑eye¹(16)
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ close to stop being open, or to make something stop being open. You use close and shut especially about your eyes, your mouth, a door, a window, or a container: Can I close the window? | Her eyes slowly closed. | He closed the door gently, so as not to wake the children.
▪ shut to close something . Shut sometimes has a feeling of doing something quickly and firmly, whereas close sounds more careful: He shut the door with a loud bang. | Shut your eyes and go to sleep.
▪ slam to close a door or lid quickly and noisily, especially because you are angry: She left the room, slamming the door behind her.
▪ draw the curtains to close curtains by pulling them across a window: The curtains were still drawn at ten o'clock in the morning.
▪ put the lid on something to close a container by putting a lid onto it: Did you put the lid on the cookie jar?
▪ seal to close something so that no air or water can get in or out: In this experiment, the chamber must be completely sealed.
close down phrasal verb
1. close something ↔ down if a company, shop etc closes down or is closed down, it stops operating permanently:
Paramount closed down its London office in 1968.
2. British English to stop broadcasting radio or television programmes at the end of the day:
BBC 2 closes down at 12:45 tonight.
close in phrasal verb
1. to move closer to someone or something, especially in order to attack them:
The snake closed in for the kill.
close in on/around/upon etc
enemy soldiers closing in on them from all sides
2. if the night, bad weather etc closes in, it becomes darker or gets worse:
The sun had set and dusk was closing in.
3. if the days close in, they become shorter because it is autumn
close something ↔ off phrasal verb
to separate a road, room etc from the area around it so that people cannot go there or use it:
The roads into the docks were closed off by iron gates.
close on somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to get nearer to someone or something that is moving in front or ahead of you:
The patrol car was rapidly closing on us.
2. American English to successfully arrange a ↑loan, especially in order to buy a house
close something ↔ out phrasal verb American English
1. to finish in a particular way:
The bond market closed out the week on a strong note.
2. if a store closes out a type of goods, they sell all of them cheaply:
We’re closing out this line of swimwear.
close up phrasal verb
1. close something ↔ up if a shop or building closes up or is closed up, it stops being open to the public for a period of time:
The resorts are all closed up for the season.
2. close up shop to stop doing something for a period of time or permanently:
When it rains, there is no alternative but to close up shop.
3. if a group of people close up, they move closer together
4. close something ↔ up if a wound closes up or if someone closes it up, the edges grow together again or are sewn together:
The scar is closing up nicely – it’ll soon be time to take the stitches out.
5. to become narrower or to shut:
The flowers close up at night.
Occasionally the channel widened then closed up tight again.
6. to refuse to talk to someone about something:
The moment I said I was a police officer, everyone would close up like a clam.
close with somebody/something phrasal verb
1. to agree a business deal with someone:
It was such a good offer that I closed with him on the spot.
2. literary to move towards someone in order to fight with them

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

close

▪ I. close 1 [close closes closed closing] verb, noun [kləʊz] [kloʊz]

verb
WINDOW/DOOR, ETC.
1. transitive, intransitive ~ (sth) to put sth into a position so that it covers an opening; to get into this position
Syn: shut
• Would anyone mind if I closed the window?
• She closed the gate behind her.
• It's dark now— let's close the curtains.
• I closed my eyes against the bright light.
• The doors open and close automatically.

Opp: open

BOOK/UMBRELLA, ETC.

2. transitive ~ sth (up) to move the parts of sth together so that it is no longer open
Syn: shut
• to close a book/an umbrella

Opp: open

SHOP/STORE/BUSINESS, ETC.

3. transitive, often passive, intransitive to make the work of a shop/store, etc. stop for a period of time; to not be open for people to use
• ~ sth (for sth) The museum has been closed for renovation.
• ~ sth (to sb/sth) The road was closed to traffic for two days.
• ~ (for sth) What time does the bank close?
• We close for lunch between twelve and two.

Opp: open

4. transitive, intransitive ~ (sth) (also ˌclose ˈdown, ˌclose sthˈdown) if a company, shop/store, etc. closes, or if you close it, it stops operating as a business
• The club was closed by the police.
• The hospital closed at the end of last year.
• The play closed after just three nights.

Opp: open

END

5. transitive, intransitive to end or make sth end
• The meeting will close at 10.00 p.m.
• The offer closes at the end of the week.
• ~ sth to close a meeting/debate
• to close a case/an investigation
• to close an account (= to stop keeping money in a bank account)
• The subject is now closed (= we will not discuss it again).

Opp: open

FINANCE

6. intransitive ~ (at sth) to be worth a particular amount at the end of the day's business
• Shares in the company closed at 265p.

• closing prices

DISTANCE/DIFFERENCE

7. transitive, intransitive ~ (sth) to make the distance or difference between two people or things smaller; to become smaller or narrower
• These measures are aimed at closing the gap between rich and poor.

• The gap between the two top teams is closing all the time.

HOLD FIRMLY

8. transitive, intransitive ~ (sth) about/around/over sb/sth to hold sth/sb firmly
• She closed her hand over his.
• Her hand closed over his.
more at close/shut the door on sth at door, shut/close your ears to sth at ear, shut/close your eyes to sthwith your eyes shut/closed at eye _n.

Word Origin:
Middle English Old French clos- clore Latin claudere ‘to shut’

Thesaurus:
close verb
1. T, I
• She closed the gate behind her.
shut • • draw • • slam • • lock • • bolt •
Opp: open
close/shut/slam/lock/bolt a door/gate
close/shut/lock a window/drawer/case/suitcase
close/shut a/an/your box/lid/eyes/mouth/flap/valve/book/umbrella
close/draw the curtains/blinds
Close or shut? Close often suggests a more slow or gentle action than shut
• Close your eyes and go to sleep.
2. I, T
• It was a pity the business closed.
close (sth) down • • fail • • collapse • • go bankrupt • • fold • • crash • |informal go bust • • flop • |formal, business cease trading •
Opp: open
a firm/company closes/closes down/fails/collapses/goes bankrupt/folds/crashes/goes bust/ceases trading
an industry closes down/collapses
an factory/newspaper/operation/shop closes/closes down
a play/show closes/folds/flops
Close or close down? Both these two words can be used to talk about a business or service, but only close can be used to talk about a play or show:
• The play closed after just two nights.
¤ The play closed down after just two nights
3. T, I
• The offer closes at the end of the week.
end • • finish • • wind (sth) up • |formal conclude •
Opp: open
close/end/finish/wind up/conclude a meeting
Which Word?:
close / shut
You can close and shut doors, windows, your eyes, mouth, etc.
Shut can suggest more noise and is often found in phrases such as slammed shut, banged shut, snapped shut.
Shut is also usually used for containers such as boxes, suitcases, etc.
To talk about the time when shops, offices, etc. are not open, use close or shut: ▪ What time do the banks close/shut? ◊ ▪ A strike has shut the factory. You can also use closed or shut (NAmE usually closed): ▪ The store is closed/shut today. Especially in NAmE, shut can sound less polite.
Closed is used in front of a noun, but shut is not: ▪ a closed window.
We usually use closed about roads, airports, etc: ▪ The road is closed because of the snow.
Close is also used in formal English to talk about ending a meeting or conversation.
Example Bank:
• He closed the door firmly.
• She gently closed the door behind her.
• That factory's been closed down now.
• The museum has been temporarily closed to the public.
• Tomorrow college officially closes for the vacation.
• A police spokesman said that the case was now closed.
• Can you help me close this umbrella?
• It was a pity the business closed.
• It's dark now— let's close the curtains.
• Mr Hunt then closed the debate for the government.
• She closed her eyes and fell asleep immediately.
• The meeting will close at 10 p.m.
• The subject is now closed.
• They are closing their Liverpool factory.
Idioms: close its doors ▪ close ranks ▪ close the book on something ▪ close your mind to something

Derived: close down ▪ close in ▪ close out something ▪ close over somebody ▪ close something down ▪ close something off ▪ close something up ▪ close up

noun singular (formal)
the end of a period of time or an activity
• at the close of the 17th century
• His life was drawing to a close.
• Can we bring this meeting to a close?
• By the close of London trading, Wall Street was up 9.78 points.
• The West Indies were 98 for 3 at the close of play (= at the end of the day's play in a cricket match).
Word Origin:
Middle English Old French clos- clore Latin claudere ‘to shut’

Example Bank:
• At the close of trading, he had lost thousands of pounds on the stock market.
• The chairperson brought the meeting to a close.
• The decade drew to a close with the threat of war hanging over Europe.
• At the close of play, the scores were almost level.
• At the close of the first day, things were looking good for the home team.

• Can we bring this meeting to a close?

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

close

I. SHUTTING OR COMPLETING

/kloʊz/

(closes, closing, closed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
Please look at category 12 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1.
When you close something such as a door or lid or when it closes, it moves so that a hole, gap, or opening is covered.
If you are cold, close the window...
Zacharias heard the door close...
Keep the curtains closed.
= shut
≠ open
VERB: V n, V, V-ed
2.
When you close something such as an open book or umbrella, you move the different parts of it together.
Slowly he closed the book.
VERB: V n
3.
If you close something such as a computer file or window, you give the computer an instruction to remove it from the screen. (COMPUTING)
To close your document, press CTRL+W on your keyboard.
VERB: V n
4.
When you close your eyes or your eyes close, your eyelids move downwards, so that you can no longer see.
Bess closed her eyes and fell asleep...
When we sneeze, our eyes close.
VERB: V n, V
5.
When a place closes or is closed, work or activity stops there for a short period.
Shops close only on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day...
It was Saturday; they could close the office early...
Government troops closed the airport...
The restaurant was closed for the night.
= shut
≠ open
VERB: V, V n, V n, V-ed
6.
If a place such as a factory, shop, or school closes, or if it is closed, all work or activity stops there permanently.
Many enterprises will be forced to close...
If they do close the local college I’ll have to go to Worcester.
VERB: V, V n
•
Close down means the same as close.
Minford closed down the business and went into politics...
Many of the smaller stores have closed down.
PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), V P, also V n P
• clos‧ing
...since the closing of the steelworks in nearby Duquesne in 1984.
= closure
N-SING
7.
To close a road or border means to block it in order to prevent people from using it.
They were cut off from the West in 1948 when their government closed that border crossing.
VERB: V n
8.
To close a conversation, event, or matter means to bring it to an end or to complete it.
Judge Isabel Oliva said last night: ‘I have closed the case. There was no foul play.’...
The Prime Minister is said to now consider the matter closed.
...the closing ceremony of the National Political Conference.
VERB: V n, V-ed, V-ing
9.
If you close a bank account, you take all your money out of it and inform the bank that you will no longer be using the account.
He had closed his account with the bank five years earlier.
≠ open
VERB: V n
10.
On the stock market or the currency markets, if a share price or a currency closes at a particular value, that is its value at the end of the day’s business. (BUSINESS)
Dawson shares closed at 219p, up 5p...
The US dollar closed higher in Tokyo today.
≠ open
VERB: V prep/adv, V adj-compar
11.
The close of a period of time or an activity is the end of it. To bring or draw something to a close means to end it.
By the close of business last night, most of the big firms were hailing yesterday’s actions as a success...
Brian’s retirement brings to a close a glorious chapter in British football history...
= end
N-SING: oft the N of n, to a N
12.
to close the door on something: see door
to close your eyes to something: see eye
to close ranks: see rank
see also closed, closing

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

¹close /ˈkloʊz/ verb clos·es; closed; clos·ing
✦The opposite of close is open in every sense except senses 3b and 9.
1 : to move (a door, window, etc.) so that things cannot pass through an opening : shut

[+ obj]

• Please close the door.
• We had better close the windows; it looks like it's going to rain.
• I forgot to close the gate.
• She was having trouble closing the drawer.
• Close the lid on the box tightly.

[no obj]

• The door opened and closed so quietly that I didn't notice he had come in the room.
• The box's lid closed with a bang.
2 [+ obj] : to cover the opening of (something) : shut
• Remember to close the box of cereal when you're done.
3 a : to bring together the parts or edges of (something open)

[+ obj]

• Please close your books and put them under your desks.
• Close your mouth.
• Close your eyes and go to sleep.
• I closed my fists and got ready to fight.
• close an umbrella

[no obj]

• This suitcase just won't close!
• Her eyes closed, and she drifted off to sleep.
• My throat closed and I felt like I couldn't breathe.
b : to bring together the edges of (a wound) so that it can heal

[+ obj]

• It took 10 stitches to close the wound on his head.

[no obj]

• The cut eventually closed [=closed up, healed over] on its own.
4 : to not allow (a road, park, etc.) to be used for a period of time

[+ obj]

• The city closed [=closed off] the beach during the storm.
• They closed the bridge to traffic. [=they did not allow cars to use the bridge]

[no obj]

• The park closes every evening at dusk.
5 a : to stop the services or activities of (a business, school, etc.) for a period of time

[+ obj]

• They closed the school today because of the storm.
• We'll be closing the theater while we make the necessary repairs.

[no obj]

• The store closes for lunch from 1 to 2 p.m.
• The airport closed for two hours yesterday due to icy conditions.
• The bank closes at noon on Saturdays.
• What time does the library close?
b : to stop the services or activities of (a business, school, etc.) permanently

[+ obj]

• They closed [=closed down, shut down] the school/factory/office last year.

[no obj]

• The restaurant has closed for lack of business.
• The play closed [=it stopped being performed] after 112 performances.
6 : to end (something)

[+ obj]

• The minister closed [=concluded] the services with a short prayer.
• She closed the meeting by thanking everyone for their help.
• Investigators closed the case after concluding that his death was an accident.

[no obj]

• The services closed [=concluded] with a short prayer.
• I'd like to close by thanking you all for your help.
7 [+ obj] : to stop keeping money in (an account at a bank)
• I closed [=closed out] my savings account and opened up a new one at another bank.
8 [+ obj] : to end the use of (a file, document, or program) on a computer
• Remember to save the file before closing it.
9 [+ obj] : to formally accept (an agreement)
• They just closed a deal to take ownership of a new restaurant.
• the custom of closing a deal by shaking hands
- see also close on (below)
10 [no obj] : to reach a specified price or level at the end of the day
• The stock opened at $19 a share and closed at $22.
• Stocks opened weak but closed strong.
11 : to reduce the amount of distance or difference between two things, people, or groups

[+ obj]

• The challenger has closed [=narrowed] the champion's lead to within two points.
• closing the distance to the lead runner
• These changes will help close the gap between the richest and the poorest countries.

[no obj]

• She has closed to within two points of the champion.
close down [phrasal verb]
1 a : to permanently stop operating : close
• The factory closed down in the 1980s.
b Brit : to stop broadcasting from a radio or television station for the day
• We're closing down for the night: tune in again tomorrow morning!
2 close down (something) or close (something) down : to permanently stop the services or activities of (a business, school, etc.)
• They closed down [=closed, shut down] the school due to financial problems.
- see also closedown
close in [phrasal verb] : to come or move nearer or closer
• The storm is closing in [=approaching] fast.
• Enemy troops are closing in all around us!
• The lions closed in for the kill.
• I felt that the world was closing in around me.
• The air became colder as night/darkness closed in. [=as darkness fell, as the night became dark]
- often + on
• The fire was closing in on their neighborhood.
• The camera slowly closed in on the actor's face.
• Police were closing in on the two men.
• Researchers are closing in on [=they are close to finding] a cure for the disease.
• She's closing in on 40. [=she is almost 40 years old]
close off [phrasal verb] close off (something) or close (something) off : to not allow (something) to be used for a period of time : close
• The city closed off the beach to tourists.
• closing off a road with barriers
• Half of the museum was closed off while they made the changes.
- sometimes used figuratively
• He closes himself off to new experiences. [=he does not allow himself to have new experiences]
close on [phrasal verb] close on (something) US : to formally and legally agree to and complete (an important financial arrangement, such as the purchase of a house)
• We're going to close on our house next Friday.
• They closed on the deal.
- see also ¹close 9 (above)
close out [phrasal verb] close out (something)
1 US : to quickly sell (all of a particular type of product in a store) at a lower price
• We're closing out our entire stock of children's clothing! Come and pick up some bargains!
- see also closeout
2 : to stop keeping money in (a bank account)
• She withdrew all her money and closed out [=closed] her account.
3 : to end (something) in a specified way
• The team closed out the series with a 2–1 win over New York.
• She closed out her remarkable career with a final grand performance.
close ranks
- see ¹rank
close the door on
- see door
close up [phrasal verb]
1 a : to close and lock all the doors of a building usually for a short period of time
• Businesses closed up [=closed] early so employees could attend the parade.
• We've closed up for the day. Please come back tomorrow.
b close (something) up or close up (something) : to close and lock all the doors of (a house, store, etc.)
• They closed up the house and left town.
✦To close up shop is to go out of business forever or stop performing all services or activities for a period of time.
• Rather than closing up shop entirely, the company laid off half of its workers.
• The restaurant has already closed up shop for the winter.
2 : to move closer together
• The troops closed up and prepared to begin the attack.
3 of a wound : to become completely healed
• The cut eventually closed up [=closed] on its own.
4 : to become quiet : to stop talking about your thoughts or emotions with other people
• She closes up when people ask her about her parents.
5 close (something) up or close up (something) : to bring (people or things) closer together
• Close up the spaces between the lines.