close*/*/*/

[kləʊz] verb I

1) [I/T] if you close something, or if it closes, it moves to cover an open area

I was just closing my eyes to go to sleep when the phone rang.[/ex]

Did the fridge door close completely?[/ex]

2) [I/T] to stop doing business for a short time

We close the office at noon on Fridays.[/ex]

Snow forced both airports to close.[/ex]

3) [I/T] to stop existing as a business, or to stop something operating as a business

The government plans to close 10 coal mines.[/ex]

Small shops are closing because of competition from the large chains.[/ex]

4) [I/T] if an activity or event closes, or if you close it, it ends

Her latest show closed after only three performances.[/ex]

He closed the meeting by thanking everyone for coming.[/ex]

5) [T] to stop people from entering a place or using a road

The bridge will have to be closed for repairs.[/ex]

6) [I/T] computing

if a computer program closes, or if you close it, it stops operating and disappears from your computer screen

•

- close (sth) down

- close in

- close sth off

- close (sth) up

II

adj

close */*/*/[kləʊs]

1) only a short distance away

We can walk to the swimming pool – it's quite close.[/ex]

The hotel is close to the centre of town.[/ex]

2) only a short time away

Sam's birthday is close to Christmas.[/ex]

3) likely to happen soon

Everyone believes that a peace deal is close.[/ex]

We're closer to signing a contract after today's meeting.[/ex]

She was close to tears (= almost crying) as she said goodbye to her sister.[/ex]

4) giving careful attention to every detail

I'll take a closer look at it tomorrow.[/ex]

The local police kept a close eye on his activities.[/ex]

5) similar to something but not exactly the same

That's not exactly the shade of blue, but it's close.[/ex]

The sensation is close to the feeling of floating.[/ex]

6) connected by shared feelings such as love and respect

My brother and I are very close.[/ex]

close friends[/ex]

She's close to both her parents.[/ex]

7) related to you directly, for example by being your parent, child, brother, or sister

my close relatives[/ex]

8) directly involved with someone and communicating with them a lot

a close business associate[/ex]

We worked in close cooperation with local people.[/ex]

9) almost the same as a particular amount or number

Unemployment on the island is close to 12 per cent.[/ex]

10) if a game, competition, or election is close, the scores of the players, teams etc are nearly equal

The game was close, but Real Madrid eventually won.[/ex]

11) spoken

very dangerous or unpleasant

That was close! He almost hit us.[/ex]

We had a close shave (= were in a dangerous situation) on our bikes today.[/ex]

12) warm and uncomfortable because there is not enough fresh air

closeness noun [U] III

adv

close */*/*/[kləʊs]

1) only a short distance away

She moved closer, trying to hear what Jack was saying.[/ex]

He clutched his bag close to his chest.[/ex]

2) only a short time away

As the summer grew closer, we started to think about a holiday.[/ex]

3) close on/to sth almost a particular amount or number

Close on 500 people attended the meeting.[/ex]

•

close up; up close — from only a short distance away[/ex]

I didn't see his face close up.[/ex]

come close to (doing) sth — to nearly do something[/ex]

I came close to giving up several times.[/ex]

IV

noun [singular]

close [kləʊz]

the end of something such as a period of time or an event

towards the close of the 18th century[/ex]