Word: close Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Borrowed from French clos, from Latin clausum, participle of claudō. Pronunciation: /kləʊs/, /kloʊs/ 1. Having little difference or distance in place, position, or abstractly; see also close to. Example: Is your house close? Example: Christmas is getting close. 2. Having little difference or distance in place, position, or abstractly; see also close to. Example: No, but you were close. Example: We were so close to winning! 3. Having little difference or distance in place, position, or abstractly; see also close to. Example: Phew! That was close! 4. Having little difference or distance in place, position, or abstractly; see also close to. Example: Their ages are quite close. Example: His face is a close fit with the artist's impression. 5. Having little difference or distance in place, position, or abstractly; see also close to. Example: a close translation; a close copy 6. Having little difference or distance in place, position, or abstractly; see also close to. Example: He is a close friend. Example: My brother and I were close when we were younger, but not so much now. 7. Having little difference or distance in place, position, or abstractly; see also close to. Example: We have a close affiliation with the college. Example: I keep in close contact with my former colleagues. 8. Having little difference or distance in place, position, or abstractly; see also close to. 9. Compressed, restricted, constrained, etc. Example: a close alley; close quarters; close confines Example: [...] he took to wondering what possible temptation could have induced a dingy-looking fly that was crawling over his pantaloons, to come into a close prison, when he had the choice of so many airy situations [...] 10. Compressed, restricted, constrained, etc. Example: For this job it's best to use wood with a close grain. Example: These trousers are a close fit. 11. Compressed, restricted, constrained, etc. Example: He was captured and kept a close prisoner. 12. Compressed, restricted, constrained, etc. Example: The pregnancy was a close secret. Example: His lawyers have so far kept this information close. 13. Compressed, restricted, constrained, etc. 14. Compressed, restricted, constrained, etc. Example: 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. Example: 1907, Algernon Blackwood, The Dance of Death …the artificial light and close air of his high office stool … 15. Compressed, restricted, constrained, etc. Labels: Ireland, UK 16. Compressed, restricted, constrained, etc. Labels: archaic Example: The golden globe being put into a press, [...] the water made itself way through the pores of that very close metal. 17. Rigorous, careful, etc. Example: The patient was kept under close observation. Example: Keep a close eye on him. 18. Rigorous, careful, etc. Example: This issue merits close examination. Example: Unfortunately, on close reading of the Ts and Cs, it appears that your insurance does not cover this. 19. Rigorous, careful, etc. 20. Short. Example: to cut grass or hair close 21. Closed, shut. Labels: archaic Example: There is no thinge ſo cloſe / that ſhall not be openned / and no thinge ſo hyd that ſhall not be knowen. Example: As the alchymists were assiduous workmen—as they mixed all the metals, salts, &c... and subjected such mixtures to the action of heat in close vessels, their labours were occasionally repaid by the discovery of new substances... 22. Articulated with the tongue body relatively close to the hard palate. 23. With its wings at its side, closed, held near to its body (typically also statant); (of wings) in this posture. Example: Crest, a cockatrice, wings close, vert, combed and wattled gu. Example: Sable, an eagle close or - ROPER, Derby. / Sable, a chevron ermine between three eagles close argent - GAMES, Leicester, granted 1614. / Sable a chevron between three eagles close argent - JERVOISE. 24. Difficult to obtain. Labels: dated Example: Money is close. Example: Some of these parties have not paid their last payment, because money was close last fall. 25. Parsimonious; stingy. Labels: dated Example: Yet were these Florentines as self-retired / In hungry pride and gainful cowardice, / As two close Hebrews in that land inspired, / Paled in and vineyarded from beggar-spies; [...] Example: [...] he was a crusty old fellow, as close as a vice. 26. Out of the way of observation; secluded; secret; hidden. Labels: obsolete Example: He yet kept himself close because of Saul. Example: her close intent 27. Concise; to the point. Labels: archaic Example: close reasoning Example: Where the original is close no version can reach it in the same compass. 28. Marked, evident.