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shut

Syllabification: (shut)
Pronunciation: /SHət/
Translate shut | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of shut

verb (shuts, shutting; past and past participle shut)

[with object]
  • move (something) into position so that it blocks an opening:shut the window, please she shut her lips tight (as adjective shut)she slammed the door shut
  • [no object] (of something that can block an opening) move or be moved into position:the door shut behind him
  • block an opening into (something) by moving something into position:he shut the box and locked it
  • (shut it) [in imperative] British informal stop talking; be quiet.
  • keep (someone or something) in a place by closing something such as a door:it was his own dog that he had accidentally shut outside
  • fold or bring together the sides of (something) so as to close it:he shut his book
  • prevent access to or along:they ought to shut the path up to that terrible cliff
  • make or become unavailable for business or service, either permanently or until due to be open again; close:we shut the shop for lunch [no object]:the accident and emergency departments will shut

Phrases

be (or get) shut of

informal be (or get) rid of:I’d be glad to be shut of him

shut the door on (or to)

see door.

shut one's eyes to

see eye.

shut one's mind to

see mind.

shut the stable door after the horse has bolted

try to avoid or prevent something bad or unwelcome when it is already too late to do so.

shut up shop

see shop.

shut your face (or mouth or trap)!

informal used as a rude or angry way of telling someone to be quiet.

Phrasal Verbs

shut down (or shut something down)

cease (or cause something to cease) business or operation:the plant’s operators decided to shut down the reactor

shut someone/something in

keep someone or something inside a place by closing something such as a door:her parents shut her in an upstairs room
enclose or surround a place:the village is shut in by the mountains on either side
trap something by shutting a door or drawer on it:you shut your finger in the door

shut off (or shut something off)

(used especially in relation to water, electricity, or gas) stop (or cause something to stop) flowing:he was about to shut off the power
stop (or cause something to stop) working:the engines shut off automatically
(shut something off) block the entrances and exits of something:the six compartments were being shut off from each other

shut oneself off

isolate oneself from other people.

shut someone/something out

keep someone or something out of a place or situation:the door swung closed behind them, shutting out some of the noise
prevent an opponent from scoring in a game.
screen someone or something from view:clouds shut out the stars
prevent something from occurring:there was a high-mindedness that shut out any consideration of alternatives
block something such as a painful memory from the mind:anything he didn’t like he shut out

shut up (or shut someone up)

[often in imperative] informal stop (or cause someone to stop) talking:just shut up and listen I lifted a finger slightly to shut him up

shut something up

close all doors and windows of a building or room, typically because it will be unoccupied for some time.

Origin:

Old English scyttan 'put (a bolt) in position to hold fast'; related to Dutch schutten 'shut up, obstruct', also to shoot

shut in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of shut in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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