Definition for close - Oxford Dictionaries Online (World English)

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	close1 (close) Pronunciation: /kləʊs/ adjective 1only a short distance away or apart in space or time: the hotel is close to* the sea* her birthday and mine were close together why don’t we go straight to the shops, as we’re so close? with very little or no space in between; dense: cloth with a close weave this work occupies over 1,300 pages of close print narrowly enclosed: animals in close confinement (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) involving only a small margin between winner and loser: the race will be a close contest she finished a close second 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 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: 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 5 Phoneticsanother term for high (sense 7 of the adjective) adverb (often close to) very near to someone or something; with very little space between: they stood close to the door he was holding her close noun [often in names] British a residential street without through access: she lives at 12 Goodwood Close the precinct surrounding a cathedral. a playing field at certain traditional English public schools. Scottish an entry from the street to a common stairway or to a court at the back of a building. Phrases at (or in) close quarters very or uncomfortably close to someone or something: he witnessed the atrocities of war at close quarters housing shortages force people to live in close quarters close by very near; nearby: her father lives quite close by close shave (also close call) informal a narrow escape from danger or disaster: I did take chances and can recall more than one close shave close to (or close on) (of an amount) almost; very nearly: he spent close to 30 years in jail close to the bone see bone close to one's heart see heart close to home see home close up very near: close up she was no less pretty come close almost achieve or do: he came close to* calling the Prime Minister a liar* too close for comfort dangerously or uncomfortably near: he sat on the edge of the bed, far too close for comfort figurative an issue being discussed with a sufferer may be too close for comfort to the counsellor’s personal experience Derivatives closely adverb closeness noun closish adjective Origin: Middle English: from Old French clos (as noun and adjective), from Latin clausum 'enclosure' and clausus 'closed', past participle of claudere		Search results in the dictionary close² Close, Glenn close-in close-run close-set close-up More results » Nearby Words cloistered clomiphene clomp clone clonk Clonmel clonus clop cloqué close ¹ close ² close encounter close harmony close quarters close range close reach close season Close, Glenn close-coupled