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close (v.)

(klōz), c. 1200, "to shut, cover in," from Old French clos- (past participle stem of clore "to shut, to cut off from"), 12c., from Latin clausus, past participle of claudere "to shut, close; to block up, make inaccessible; put an end to; shut in, enclose, confine" (always -clusus, -cludere in compounds), from PIE root *klau- "hook," also "peg, nail, pin," all things used as locks or bolts in primitive structures.

Also partly from Old English beclysan "close in, shut up." Intransitive sense "become shut" is from late 14c. Meaning "draw near to" is from 1520s. Intransitive meaning "draw together, come together" is from 1550s, hence the idea in military verbal phrase close ranks (mid-17c.), later with figurative extensions. Meaning "bring to an end, finish" is from c. 1400; intransitive sense "come to an end" is from 1826. Of stock prices, from 1860. Meaning "bring together the parts of" (a book, etc.) is from 1560s. Related: Closed; closing.

close (adj.)

(klōs), late 14c., "strictly confined," also "secret," from Old French clos "confined; concealed, secret; taciturn" (12c.), from Latin clausus "close, reserved," past-participle adjective from claudere "stop up, fasten, shut" (see close (v.)); main sense shifting to "near" (late 15c.) by way of "closing the gap between two things." Related: Closely.

Meaning "narrowly confined, pent up" is late 14c. Meaning "near" in a figurative sense, of persons, from 1560s. Meaning "full of attention to detail" is from 1660s. Sense of "stingy, penurious" is from 1650s. Of contests, from 1855.

Close call "narrow escape" is from 1866, in a quotation in an anecdote from 1863, possibly a term from the American Civil War; close shave in the figurative sense is 1820, American English. Close range (n.) "a short distance" is from 1814. Close-minded is attested from 1818. Close-fisted "penurious, miserly" is from c. 1600, on the notion of "keeping the hands tightly shut."

close (n.)

(klōz), late 14c., "act of closing, conclusion, termination," from close (v.). Also in early use "enclosure, enclosed space" (late 13c.), from Old French clos, noun use of the past participle. Specifically in music, "conclusion of a strain or passage," 1590s.

close (adv.)

(klōs), "tightly, with no opening or space between," from close (adj.).

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Definitions of close from WordNet
1
close (v.)
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut;
Synonyms: shut
close (v.)
become closed;
The windows closed with a loud bang
Synonyms: shut
close (v.)
cease to operate or cause to cease operating;
close up the shop
The owners decided to move and to close the factory
My business closes every night at 8 P.M.
Synonyms: close up / fold / shut down / close down
close (v.)
finish or terminate (meetings, speeches, etc.);
The meeting was closed with a charge by the chairman of the board
close (v.)
come to a close;
The concert closed with a nocturne by Chopin
Synonyms: conclude
close (v.)
complete a business deal, negotiation, or an agreement;
We closed on the house on Friday
They closed the deal on the building
close (v.)
be priced or listed when trading stops;
The stock market closed high this Friday
My new stocks closed at $59 last night
close (v.)
engage at close quarters;
close with the enemy
close (v.)
cause a window or an application to disappear on a computer desktop;
close (v.)
change one's body stance so that the forward shoulder and foot are closer to the intended point of impact;
close (v.)
come together, as if in an embrace;
Her arms closed around her long lost relative
Synonyms: come together
close (v.)
draw near;
The probe closed with the space station
close (v.)
bring together all the elements or parts of;
Management closed ranks
close (v.)
bar access to;
Due to the accident, the road had to be closed for several hours
close (v.)
fill or stop up;
Can you close the cracks with caulking?
Synonyms: fill up
close (v.)
unite or bring into contact or bring together the edges of;
close the circuit
close up an umbrella
close a book
close a wound
Synonyms: close up
close (v.)
finish a game in baseball by protecting a lead;
The relief pitcher closed with two runs in the second inning
2
close (adj.)
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other;
how close are we to town?
close to noon
a close formation of ships
close (adj.)
close in relevance or relationship;
we are all...in close sympathy with...
a close resemblance
close kin
a close family
close (adj.)
not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances;
had a close call
she was close to tears
Synonyms: near / nigh
close (adj.)
rigorously attentive; strict and thorough;
close supervision
paid close attention
kept a close watch on expenditures
a close study
close (adj.)
marked by fidelity to an original;
a close translation
Synonyms: faithful
close (adj.)
(of a contest or contestants) evenly matched;
a close contest
a close election
Synonyms: tight
close (adj.)
crowded;
close quarters
Synonyms: confining
close (adj.)
lacking fresh air;
the dreadfully close atmosphere
Synonyms: airless / stuffy / unaired
close (adj.)
of textiles;
a close weave
Synonyms: tight
close (adj.)
strictly confined or guarded;
kept under close custody
close (adj.)
confined to specific persons;
a close secret
close (adj.)
fitting closely but comfortably;
a close fit
Synonyms: snug / close-fitting
close (adj.)
used of hair or haircuts;
a close military haircut
close (adj.)
giving or spending with reluctance;
very close (or near) with his money
Synonyms: cheeseparing / near / penny-pinching / skinny
close (adj.)
inclined to secrecy or reticence about divulging information;
although they knew her whereabouts her friends kept close about it
Synonyms: closelipped / closemouthed / secretive / tightlipped
3
close (n.)
the temporal end; the concluding time;
they were playing better at the close of the season
Synonyms: stopping point / finale / finis / finish / last / conclusion
close (n.)
the last section of a communication;
Synonyms: conclusion / end / closing / ending
close (n.)
the concluding part of any performance;
Synonyms: finale / closing curtain / finis
4
close (adv.)
near in time or place or relationship;
don't get too close to the fire
the bullet didn't come close
Synonyms: near / nigh
close (adv.)
in an attentive manner;
he remained close on his guard
Synonyms: closely / tight
From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near close

clonk

clonus

Clootie

clop

Cloris

close

close quarters

closed

closely

closeness

closer

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