GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
last match results
Found 6 definitions
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Close (klōz), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Closed (klōzd); p. pr. & vb. n. Closing.] [From OF. & F. clos, p. p. of clore to close, fr. L. claudere; akin to G. schliessen to shut, and to E. clot, cloister, clavicle, conclude, sluice. Cf. Clause, n.]
1. To stop, or fill up, as an opening; to shut; as, “to close the eyes; to close a door”.
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2. To bring together the parts of; to consolidate; as, “to close the ranks of an army; -- often used with up”.
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3. To bring to an end or period; to conclude; to complete; to finish; to end; to consummate; as, “to close a bargain; to close a course of instruction”.
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One frugal supper did our studies close. Dryden.
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4. To come or gather around; to inclose; to encompass; to confine.
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The depth closed me round about. Jonah ii. 5.
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But now thou dost thyself immure and close
In some one corner of a feeble heart. Herbert.
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A closed sea, a sea within the jurisdiction of some particular nation, which controls its navigation.
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Close, v. i.
1. To come together; to unite or coalesce, as the parts of a wound, or parts separated.
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What deep wounds ever closed without a scar? Byron.
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2. To end, terminate, or come to a period; as, “the debate closed at six o'clock”.
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3. To grapple; to engage in hand-to-hand fight.
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They boldly closed in a hand-to-hand contest. Prescott.
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To close on or To close upon, to come to a mutual agreement; to agree on or join in. “Would induce France and Holland to close upon some measures between them to our disadvantage.” Sir W. Temple. -- To close with. (a) To accede to; to consent or agree to; as, “to close with the terms proposed”. (b) To make an agreement with. -- To close with the land (Naut.), to approach the land.
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Close (?), n.
1. The manner of shutting; the union of parts; junction. [Obs.]
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The doors of plank were; their close exquisite. Chapman.
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2. Conclusion; cessation; ending; end.
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His long and troubled life was drawing to a close. Macaulay.
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3. A grapple in wrestling. Bacon.
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4. (Mus.) (a) The conclusion of a strain of music; cadence. (b) A double bar marking the end.
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At every close she made, the attending throng
Replied, and bore the burden of the song. Dryden.
Syn. -- Conclusion; termination; cessation; end; ending; extremity; extreme.
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Close (? or ?), n. [OF. & F. clos an inclosure, fr. clos, p. p. of clore. See Close, v. t.]
1. An inclosed place; especially, a small field or piece of land surrounded by a wall, hedge, or fence of any kind; -- specifically, the precinct of a cathedral or abbey.
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Closes surrounded by the venerable abodes of deans and canons. Macaulay.
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2. A narrow passage leading from a street to a court, and the houses within. [Eng.] Halliwell
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3. (Law) The interest which one may have in a piece of ground, even though it is not inclosed. Bouvier.
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Close (klōs), a. [Compar. Closer (klōˈsẽr); superl. Closest.] [Of. & F. clos, p. p. of clore. See Close, v. t.]
1. Shut fast; closed; tight; as, “a close box”.
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From a close bower this dainty music flowed. Dryden.
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2. Narrow; confined; as, “a close alley; close quarters”. “A close prison.” Dickens.
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3. Oppressive; without motion or ventilation; causing a feeling of lassitude; -- said of the air, weather, etc.
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If the rooms be low-roofed, or full of windows and doors, the one maketh the air close, . . . and the other maketh it exceeding unequal. Bacon.
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4. Strictly confined; carefully quarded; as, “a close prisoner”.
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5. Out of the way observation; secluded; secret; hidden. “He yet kept himself close because of Saul.” 1 Chron. xii. 1
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“Her close intent.” Spenser.
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6. Disposed to keep secrets; secretive; reticent. “For secrecy, no lady closer.” Shak.
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7. Having the parts near each other; dense; solid; compact; as applied to bodies; viscous; tenacious; not volatile, as applied to liquids.
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The golden globe being put into a press, . . . the water made itself way through the pores of that very close metal. Locke.
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8. Concise; to the point; as, “close reasoning”. “Where the original is close no version can reach it in the same compass.” Dryden.
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9. Adjoining; near; either in space; time, or thought; -- often followed by to.
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Plant the spring crocuses close to a wall. Mortimer.
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The thought of the Man of sorrows seemed a very close thing -- not a faint hearsay. G. Eliot.
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10. Short; as, “to cut grass or hair close”.
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11. Intimate; familiar; confidential.
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League with you I seek
And mutual amity, so strait, so close,
That I with you must dwell, or you with me. Milton.
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12. Nearly equal; almost evenly balanced; as, “a close vote”. “A close contest.” Prescott.
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13. Difficult to obtain; as, “money is close”. Bartlett.
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14. Parsimonious; stingy. “A crusty old fellow, as close as a vise.” Hawthorne.
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15. Adhering strictly to a standard or original; exact; strict; as, “a close translation”. Locke.
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16. Accurate; careful; precise; also, attentive; undeviating; strict; not wandering; as, “a close observer”.
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17. (Phon.) Uttered with a relatively contracted opening of the mouth, as certain sounds of e and o in French, Italian, and German; -- opposed to open.
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Close borough. See under Borough. -- Close breeding. See under Breeding. -- Close communion, communion in the Lord's supper, restricted to those who have received baptism by immersion. -- Close corporation, a body or corporation which fills its own vacancies. -- Close fertilization. (Bot.) See Fertilization. -- Close harmony (Mus.), compact harmony, in which the tones composing each chord are not widely distributed over several octaves. -- Close time, a fixed period during which killing game or catching certain fish is prohibited by law. -- Close vowel (Pron.), a vowel which is pronounced with a diminished aperture of the lips, or with contraction of the cavity of the mouth. -- Close to the wind (Naut.), directed as nearly to the point from which the wind blows as it is possible to sail; closehauled; -- said of a vessel.
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Close (klōs), adv.
1. In a close manner.
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2. Secretly; darkly. [Obs.]
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A wondrous vision which did close imply
The course of all her fortune and posterity. Spenser.
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