close
close
Pronunciation
1. As a verb (to shut):
IPA phonetic spelling: /kloʊz/
Syllable breakdown:
close:
/k/ (voiceless velar stop, as in "cat")
/l/ (voiced lateral approximant, as in "look")
/oʊ/ (long "o" diphthong, as in "boat" or "go")
/z/ (voiced alveolar fricative, as in "zoo")
2. As an adjective or adverb (near):
IPA phonetic spelling: /kloʊs/
Syllable breakdown:
close:
/k/ (voiceless velar stop, as in "cat")
/l/ (voiced lateral approximant, as in "look")
/oʊ/ (long "o" diphthong, as in "boat" or "go")
/s/ (voiceless alveolar fricative, as in "sun")
Word Form Variations
1. As a Verb (to shut, to end):
Base Form/Infinitive: close (e.g., Please close the door.)
Third-person singular present: closes (e.g., He closes the shop at 5 PM.)
Present participle: closing (e.g., The door is closing.)
Past simple: closed (e.g., She closed her eyes.)
Past participle: closed (e.g., The store has closed for the day.)
2. As an Adjective (near, intimate, detailed, stuffy):
Positive Degree: close (e.g., The book is close to the edge.)
Comparative Degree: closer (e.g., Move closer to the fire.)
Superlative Degree: closest (e.g., That's the closest store.)
3. As an Adverb (in a close manner, near):
Positive Degree: close (e.g., Don't stand too close.)
Comparative Degree: closer (e.g., Come closer.)
Superlative Degree: closest (e.g., He lives closest to the school.) Note: While "closely" is also an adverb derived from "close," it often implies a different nuance, meaning "carefully" or "intimately" (e.g., Watch him closely.). "Close" as an adverb primarily refers to physical proximity.
4. As a Noun (the end, a short street):
Singular: close (e.g., At the close of the day... or He lives on Barker Close.)
Plural: closes (e.g., The estate has several quiet closes.)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Close (Verb)
Definition: To move something into a position that obstructs an opening, thereby preventing passage or access; to bring parts together so there is no longer a gap.
Synonyms: shut, seal, fasten, secure, block, obstruct
Antonyms: open, unseal, unlock, unfasten
Definition: To bring to an end; to conclude or complete an activity, event, or period of time.
Synonyms: finish, conclude, complete, terminate, cease, wrap up (informal)
Antonyms: begin, start, commence, initiate, open
Definition: To reduce or eliminate a gap or distance between two or more things; to narrow or make smaller.
Synonyms: narrow, reduce, bridge (a gap), lessen, tighten
Antonyms: widen, broaden, expand, open
Definition: (Financial) To finalize a deal, transaction, or account, often involving the exchange of money or documents.
Synonyms: finalize, complete, settle, conclude, consummate
Antonyms: open (an account), start (a deal)
Close (Adjective)
Definition: Situated a short distance away; near in space or time.
Synonyms: near, nearby, adjacent, proximate, contiguous, imminent
Antonyms: far, distant, remote, faraway, removed
Definition: Having a strong, intimate, or familiar relationship; well-acquainted or deeply connected.
Synonyms: intimate, dear, fond, tight-knit, devoted, familiar
Antonyms: distant, estranged, alienated, unfamiliar, casual
Definition: Paying strict or careful attention; thorough and meticulous in observation or examination.
Synonyms: careful, meticulous, detailed, rigorous, precise, observant
Antonyms: loose, lax, careless, superficial, cursory
Definition: (Of weather or air) Warm, humid, and lacking fresh circulation, often feeling oppressive.
Synonyms: muggy, humid, stuffy, airless, oppressive, sweltering
Antonyms: fresh, airy, breezy, crisp, clear
Definition: (Of a contest or competition) Nearly even in results, with little difference between competitors.
Synonyms: tight, narrow, even, balanced, neck and neck
Antonyms: one-sided, lopsided, uneven, disparate
Close (Adverb)
Definition: At a short distance; in a position that is not far away.
Synonyms: near, nearby, nigh (archaic), proximately
Antonyms: far, distantly, remotely, away
Close (Noun)
Definition: The end or conclusion of an event, period, or process.
Synonyms: end, conclusion, finale, culmination, termination, cessation
Antonyms: beginning, start, opening, commencement, inception
Definition: (British English) A short, often private, street or cul-de-sac, typically leading to a small group of houses.
Synonyms: cul-de-sac, dead end, lane, alley (sometimes)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it describes a specific type of street layout)
Definition: The act of shutting or closing something.
Synonyms: shut, closure (less common as a direct synonym for the act)
Antonyms: open, opening
Examples of Use
Books
Verb (to shut): "She watched the heavy oak door close slowly, sealing off the antechamber from the main hall." (Example adapted from fantasy literature)
Adjective (near): "The detective knew he was close to solving the case, a nagging detail just out of reach." (Example adapted from crime fiction)
Adjective (intimate): "Their friendship was close, forged through years of shared triumphs and tribulations." (Example adapted from literary fiction)
Noun (the end): "At the close of the chapter, a new mystery began to unfold." (Example adapted from a novel structure)
Newspapers
Verb (to shut): "The local bakery announced it would close its doors after 50 years of business, citing rising costs." (Local News Report, e.g., Daily Nation)
Noun (the end): "Markets saw a slight recovery at the close of trading, but concerns about inflation persist." (Financial News, e.g., The Standard)
Adjective (near): "The election race remains incredibly close, with neither candidate able to declare victory yet." (Political Commentary, e.g., The New York Times)
Adverb (at a short distance): "Protesters marched close to the parliament building, maintaining a peaceful demonstration." (Photo Caption, e.g., Reuters)
Online Publications
Verb (to conclude): "The online conference will close with a keynote address from a leading expert in AI." (Event Schedule, e.g., TechCrunch)
Adjective (detailed): "A close examination of the data revealed several anomalies previously overlooked." (Research Article, e.g., Nature.com)
Adjective (near): "The two start-ups are in close competition for market share in the burgeoning e-commerce sector." (Business Analysis, e.g., Forbes.com)
Noun (the end): "As we approach the close of the fiscal year, companies are urged to submit their financial reports promptly." (Business News Update, e.g., Business Daily Africa)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
Film (Adjective - near): "The camera pans in for a close shot of the protagonist's face, revealing her subtle fear." (Film Review, describing a visual technique, e.g., Empire Magazine)
Television (Verb - to shut): "In the season finale, the detective finally manages to close the cold case that has haunted him for years." (TV Series Synopsis, e.g., Netflix)
Music (Adjective - intimate/near): "The lyrics paint a picture of a close embrace, a moment of profound connection." (Song Review, e.g., Pitchfork)
Video Games (Adverb - at a short distance): "Players must get close to enemies to unleash their most powerful melee attacks." (Game Strategy Guide, e.g., IGN)
Podcasts (Verb - to conclude): "And that's how we close out another episode of 'True Crime Unsolved'." (Podcast Host Closing Remarks)
General Public Discourse
Verb (to shut): "Can you please close the window? It's getting a bit chilly." (Everyday conversation)
Adjective (near): "My house is really close to the new shopping mall." (Informal conversation about location)
Adjective (intimate): "We're a very close family; we always support each other." (Describing family dynamics)
Adverb (at a short distance): "The dog followed so close that I nearly tripped over him." (Describing proximity)
Noun (the end): "It was a close call when that car swerved, but thankfully, no one was hurt." (Referring to a narrow escape)
10 Famous Quotes Using Close
"Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer." (Michael Corleone in The Godfather, by Mario Puzo)
"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." (Semisonic, "Closing Time" – uses the concept of 'closing' as an 'end')
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." (Robert Frost, "The Road Not Taken" – Close in meaning to "near" a choice, or the closing of one path for another)
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." (Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird – implies getting close to someone's perspective)
"A mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it is not open." (Frank Zappa – uses the antonym "open," implying the opposite of "close" in terms of function)
"Home is where the heart is." (Pliny the Elder – Close in meaning to "near" or "intimate" connection to a place)
"All's well that ends well." (William Shakespeare, All's Well That Ends Well – speaks to the close or conclusion of a situation)
"The eyes are the windows to your soul." (Attributed to William Shakespeare or Leonardo da Vinci – suggests that looking close at eyes reveals inner truth)
"The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle." (Steve Jobs – "Don't settle" implies not closing off possibilities prematurely)
"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." (Oscar Wilde – Encourages an authentic self that is close to one's true nature)
Etymology
The word "close" has a really interesting history because it acts as different parts of speech (like a verb, adjective, or noun) and its meaning has slightly shifted over time, while still holding onto its original idea of "shutting" or "being contained."
Let's break it down:
Where it Comes From (The Roots):
"Close" ultimately comes from the Latin word "claudere," which meant "to shut," "to close," or "to confine."
How it Traveled to English:
This Latin word then made its way into Old French as "clore" (meaning "to shut" or "to cut off from") and its past participle "clos."
English speakers borrowed "close" from these Old French terms during the Middle English period (around 1150-1500 AD).
First Known Uses and Meanings:
As a Verb (to shut): This was one of the earliest uses. The meaning of "to shut" or "to cover in" appeared around 1200 AD. So, if someone said "close the door," they literally meant to shut it.
As a Noun (an enclosed place): Also appearing quite early, before 1275 AD, "close" was used as a noun to refer to an "enclosed place" or an "enclosure." Think of a field that's been fenced off, or even a small, enclosed courtyard, like the "cathedral close" (the area around a cathedral).
As an Adjective (shut/confined/secret): The adjective form, meaning "shut," "confined," or "secret," is recorded from around 1350 AD. This is where we get the idea of something being "kept close" (meaning hidden or secret).
How "Near" Came into Play:
Interestingly, the meaning of "close" as "near" (like "close by") developed a bit later, in the 1500s. This likely came from the idea of "closing a gap" or "drawing things together," leading to the sense of proximity.
So, in simple terms, "close" is an old word that came from Latin through French. Its original meaning was all about shutting things, putting them inside, or making them private/secret. Over centuries, it also gained the meaning of being physically near because of the concept of "closing the distance" between things.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Close
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "close":
Close calls: A narrow escape from danger or disaster.
Close shave: (Synonym for close call) A narrow escape.
Close ranks: To unite or come together, especially in defense against an outside force.
Close a deal: To finalize a business agreement or transaction.
Close the book on something: To conclude or abandon a project or matter.
Close to home: Affecting one personally and deeply, often uncomfortably so.
Close quarters: A situation where people or things are very near to each other in a confined space.
Too close for comfort: Uncomfortably or dangerously near.
Close-knit: (Adjective) Referring to a group (like a family or community) whose members are tightly bound together by strong relationships.
Close-minded: (Adjective) Unwilling to consider new ideas or opinions.
Close one's eyes to something: To deliberately ignore something unpleasant or problematic.
Close on someone's heels: Following very closely behind someone.
Close the door on something: To prevent something from happening, or to stop pursuing a particular course of action.
Close the loop: To complete a process or communication cycle, ensuring all parties are informed or tasks are finished.
A close reading: A careful and detailed analysis of a text.
To close up shop: To cease business operations, either temporarily or permanently.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of close from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
