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Added 9 October 2026

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/ˈkləʊz/ noun

In Latin: claudō Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about close at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

The temporal end; the concluding time.
the stopping point of each round was signaled by a bell
The last section of a communication.
in conclusion I want to say...
The concluding part of any performance.

verb

Move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut.
Close the door
Become closed.
The windows closed with a loud bang
Cease to operate or cause to cease operating.
The owners decided to move and to close the factory

adjective

At or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other.
close to noon
Close in relevance or relationship.
a close family
Not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances.
near neighbors

adverb

Near in time or place or relationship.
as the wedding day drew near
In an attentive manner.
he remained close on his guard

Origin

From Middle English closen (“to close, enclose”), partly continuing (in altered form) earlier Middle English clusen (“to close”) from Old English clȳsan (“to close, shut”); compare beclose, foreclose, etc.), and partly derived from Middle English clos (“close, shut up, confined, secret”, adjective), from Old French clos (“close, confined”, adjective), from Latin clausus (“shut up”, past participle), from claudō (“to bar, block, close, enclose, bring an end to, confine”), from Proto-Indo-European *kleh₂w- (“key, hook, nail”), related to Latin clāvis (“key, deadbolt, bar”), clāvus (“nail, peg”), claustrum (“bar, bolt, barrier”), claustra (“dam, wall, barricade, stronghold”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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