close1

adjective

• 1a short distance away or apart in space or time:the hotel is close to the sea her birthday and her wedding date were close together the months of living in close proximity to her were taking their toll
• with very little or no space in between; dense:cloth with a closer weave this work occupies over 1,300 pages of close print
• narrowly enclosed:animals in close confinement
• [predic.] (close to) very near to (being or doing something):on a good day the climate in LA is close to perfection she was close to tears
• (with reference to a competitive situation) won or likely to be won by only a small amount or distance:the race will be a close contest she finished a close second
• Phoneticsanother term for high (sense 7 of the adjective).

• 2 [attributive] denoting a family member who is part of a person’s immediate family, typically a parent or sibling:the family history of cancer in close relatives
• (of a person or relationship) on very affectionate or intimate terms:they had always been very close, with no secrets at all
• (of a connection or resemblance) strong:the college has close links with many other institutions

• 3(of observation, examination, etc.) done in a careful and thorough way:we need to keep a close eye on this project pay close attention to what your body is telling you about yourself
• carefully guarded:his whereabouts are a close secret
• not willing to give away money or information; secretive:you’re very close about your work, aren’t you?

• 4uncomfortably humid or airless:a close, hazy day it was very close in the dressing room

adverb

• in a position so as to be very near to someone or something; with very little space between:they stood close to the door he was holding her close