Close | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Clōse, v. t.

verbtransitive

(klōz), v. t. [imp. & p. p. CLOSED; p. pr. & vb. n. CLOSING.] [See infra.]

To bring together the parts of; to stop, as an opening; to shut; to consolidate; as, to close the eyes; to close the ranks of an army.
To bring to an end or period; to conclude; to complete; as, to close a bargain.

One frugal supper did our studies close. Dryden. 3. To come or gather around; to inclose; to encompass; to confine. The waters compassed me about, . . . the depth closed me round about. Jonah ii. 5. 4. To shut in; to confine. [Rare.] But now thou dost thyself immure and close In some one corner of a feeble heart. Herbert.

Clōse, v. i.

verbintransitive

(klōz), v. i. 1. To come together; to unite or coalesce, as the parts of a wound or fracture, or parts separated. “What deep wounds ever closed without a scar?” Byron. 2. To end, terminate, or come to a period; as, the debate closed at six o’clock. To close on, or upon, to come to a mutual agreement; to agree on or join in. “To close upon some measures between them to our disadvantage.” Temple.—To close with. (a.) To accede to; to consent or agree to; as, to close with the terms proposed. (b.) To make an agreement with; to unite with; as, to close with an enemy. He took the time when Richard was deposed, And high and low with happy Harry closed. Dryden. (c.) To grapple with;—said of wrestlers. They boldly closed in a hand-to-hand contest with their enemy. Prescott.

Clōse, n.

noun

(klōz), n. 1. The manner of shutting; the union of parts; junction. The doors of plank were; their close exquisite, Kept with a double key. Chapman.

Sense 2. An ending; conclusion; termination; stop; cessation; end. His long and troubled life was drawing to a close. Macaulay.

Sense 3. A grapple in wrestling. Bacon.

Sense 4. (Mus.) The end of a strain of music;— cadence; a double bar marking the end. At every close she made, the attending throng Replied, and bore the burden of the song. Dryden.

Clōşe, n.

noun

n. [Fr. clos, Pr. claus, an inclosed place, an inclosure, from Fr. clos, Pr. claus, p. p. of clore, claure. See infra.] 1. An inclosed place; especially a small field or piece of land surrounded by a wall, hedge, or fence of any kind. “Closes surrounded by the venerable abodes of deans and canons.” Macaulay. I have a tree which grows here in my close, That mine own use invites me to cut down. Shak.

A narrow passage leading from a street to a court, and the houses within. [Eng.] Halliwell.
(Law.) The interest which one may have in a piece of ground, even though it is not actually inclosed. Bouvier.

Clōse, a.

adjective

(klōs) (20), a. [compar. CLOSER; superl. CLOSEST.] [Fr. clos, Pr. claus, p. p. of clore, clorre, Pr. claure, clauzer, from Lat. clausus, p. p. of claudere, to shut.]

Sense 1. Shut fast; closed; tight.

From a close bower this dainty music flowed. Dryden.

Sense 2. Pent up; confined; secluded; secret; retired.

The great seraphic lords and cherubim In close recess and secret conclave. Milton.

Sense 3. Confined; stagnant; oppressive; without motion or ventilation; causing a feeling of lassitude; — said of the air.

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. Bacon.

Sense 4. Not communicative; secretive; cautious; wary; reticent; taciturn. “For secrecy, no lady closer.” Shak.

A close behavior is fittest to receive virtue for its constant guest, because then, and then only, can it be secure. Saville.

Sense 5. Parsimonious; niggardly; not liberal; penurious; as, a close, hard man.

Sense 6. Having the parts brought together; dense; solid; compact.

The golden globe being put into a press, . . . the water made itself way through the pores of that very close metal. Locke.

Sense 7. Brought into the same neighborhood; adjoining; near; — often followed by to.

Plant the spring crocuses close to a wall. Mortimer.

Where’er my name I find, Some dire misfortune follows close behind. Pope.

Sense 8. Brought into contact; intimate; familiar; confidential.

League with you I seek And mutual amity, so strait, so close, That I with you must dwell, or you with me. Milton.

Sense 9. Adhering to a rule or standard; undeviating; strict; as, a close translation.

To keep our thoughts close to their business. Locke.

Sense 10. Accurate; careful; precise; earnest; faithful.

It might have been remarked by a close observer. W. Scott.

Sense 11. Nearly equal; evenly balanced; doubtful; as, a close vote. “A close personal contest.” Prescott.

Sense 12. (Her.) Having the wings folded upon the body; — said of a bird represented upon armorial bearings.

Close communion, with Baptists, communion in the Lord’s supper, restricted to those who have received baptism by immersion. — Close corporation, a body or corporation which fills its own vacancies, and is not open to the public. — Close vowel (Pron.), one which is pronounced with a diminished aperture of the lips, or with contraction of the cavity of the mouth. — Close to the wind (Naut.), directed as nearly to the point from which the wind blows as it is possible to sail; — said of a vessel.

Clōse, adv.

adverb

adv. 1. In a close manner; closely; densely; nearly; pressingly.

Sense 2. Secretly; darkly. [Obs.]

A wondrous vision which did close imply The course of all her fortune and posterity. Spenser.