closet

I. clos‧et¹ S3 /ˈklɒzət, ˈklɒzɪt $ ˈklɑː-, ˈklɒː-/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: clos 'enclosed place', from Latin clausum, from clausus; ⇨ ↑close²]
1. especially American English a cupboard built into the wall of a room from the floor to the ceiling ⇨ wardrobe:
a closet full of beautiful clothes
2. come out of the closet
a) to tell people that you are ↑homosexual after hiding the fact SYN come out
b) to admit something or to start to discuss something that was kept secret before
3. be in the closet American English informal to not tell people that you are ↑homosexual
⇨ ↑water closet, ⇨ a skeleton in the closet at ↑skeleton(5)
II. closet² BrE AmE adjective
closet homosexual/alcoholic etc someone who is a ↑homosexual etc but who does not want to admit it:
a closet communist
III. closet³ BrE AmE verb [transitive usually passive]
to shut someone in a room away from other people in order to discuss something private, to be alone etc
be closeted with somebody
All morning he’d been closeted with various officials.
Don’t let her closet herself away in her room.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

closet

closet [closet closets closeted closeting] noun, adjective, verb [ˈklɒzɪt] [ˈklɑːzət]

noun (especially NAmE)
a small room or a space in a wall with a door that reaches the floor, used for storing things
• a walk-in closet

compare cupboard, wardrobe
see also water closet
see also come out (¹⁰), see a skeleton in the cupboard/closet at skeleton
Word Origin:
late Middle English (denoting a private or small room): from Old French, diminutive of clos ‘closed’, from Latin claudere ‘to shut’.
Thesaurus:
closet noun C (especially AmE)
• a walk-in closet for her clothes
cupboard • • wardrobe • • pantry • • cabinet • • unit •
walk-in closet/cupboard/wardrobe/pantry
built-in closet/cupboard/wardrobe
wall/storage/kitchen closet/cupboard/cabinet/unit
Example Bank:
• He searched his closet for something to wear.
• He went to the closet and pulled out a suit.
• Her closet was filled with black clothes.
• I picked a shirt from the closet.
• I raided Bob's closet for something to wear.
• More public figures are finding the courage to come out of the closet.
• They were hoping to find some skeletons in his closet.
• clothes hanging in the closet
• It's about time I cleared out this closet.
• She has a walk-in closet for all her clothes.

Idiom: come out of the closet

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

closet / klɒz.ɪt / / klɑ.zɪt / noun [ C ] mainly US

A2 a cupboard or a small room with a door, used for storing things, especially clothes:
a bedroom/linen/storage closet

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

closet

/klɒzɪt/
(closets)

1.
A closet is a piece of furniture with doors at the front and shelves inside, which is used for storing things. (AM; in BRIT, use cupboard)
N-COUNT

2.
A closet is a very small room for storing things, especially one without windows. (AM; also BRIT OLD-FASHIONED)
N-COUNT

3.
Closet is used to describe a person who has beliefs, habits, or feelings which they keep secret, often because they are embarrassed about them. Closet is also used of their beliefs, habits, or feelings.
He is a closet Fascist.
ADJ: ADJ n

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

¹clos·et /ˈklɑːzət/ noun, pl -ets
1 [count] chiefly US : a usually small room that is used for storing things (such as clothing, towels, or dishes)
• The sheets and blankets are in the hall closet.
• He has a closet full of new clothes.
• broom/coat closets
• a walk-in closet [=a large closet usually for clothes]
- see also water closet
2 [noncount] : a state in which someone will not talk about something or admit something especially; : a state in which someone will not admit being a homosexual - usually used in the phrases in the closet or out of the closet
• He's still in the closet. [=he has not told people that he is gay]
• She came out of the closet in college.
skeleton in the/your closet