1close 
/ˈkloʊz/ verb
clos·es; closed; clos·ing /ˈkloʊz/ verb ◊The opposite of close is open in every sense except senses 3b and 9. 1 : to move (a door, window, etc.) so that things cannot pass through an opening : shut [+ obj] ▪ Please close the door. ▪ We had better close the windows; it looks like it's going to rain. ▪ I forgot to close the gate. ▪ She was having trouble closing the drawer. ▪ Close the lid on the box tightly. [no obj] ▪ The door opened and closed so quietly that I didn't notice he had come in the room. ▪ The box's lid closed with a bang. 2 [+ obj] : to cover the opening of (something) : shut
▪ Remember to close the box of cereal when you're done. 3 a : to bring together the parts or edges of (something open) [+ obj] ▪ Please close your books and put them under your desks. ▪ Close your mouth. ▪ Close your eyes and go to sleep. ▪ I closed my fists and got ready to fight. ▪ close an umbrella [no obj] ▪ This suitcase just won't close! ▪ Her eyes closed, and she drifted off to sleep. ▪ My throat closed and I felt like I couldn't breathe.
b : to bring together the edges of (a wound) so that it can heal [+ obj] ▪ It took 10 stitches to close the wound on his head. [no obj] ▪ The cut eventually closed [=closed up, healed over] on its own. 4 : to not allow (a road, park, etc.) to be used for a period of time [+ obj] ▪ The city closed [=closed off] the beach during the storm. ▪ They closed the bridge to traffic. [=they did not allow cars to use the bridge] [no obj] ▪ The park closes every evening at dusk. 5 a : to stop the services or activities of (a business, school, etc.) for a period of time [+ obj] ▪ They closed the school today because of the storm. ▪ We'll be closing the theater while we make the necessary repairs. [no obj] ▪ The store closes for lunch from 1 to 2 p.m. ▪ The airport closed for two hours yesterday due to icy conditions. ▪ The bank closes at noon on Saturdays. ▪ What time does the library close?
b : to stop the services or activities of (a business, school, etc.) permanently [+ obj] ▪ They closed [=closed down, shut down] the school/factory/office last year. [no obj] ▪ The restaurant has closed for lack of business. ▪ The play closed [=it stopped being performed] after 112 performances. 6 : to end (something) [+ obj] ▪ The minister closed [=concluded] the services with a short prayer. ▪ She closed the meeting by thanking everyone for their help. ▪ Investigators closed the case after concluding that his death was an accident. [no obj] ▪ The services closed [=concluded] with a short prayer. ▪ I'd like to close by thanking you all for your help. 7 [+ obj] : to stop keeping money in (an account at a bank)
▪ I closed [=closed out] my savings account and opened up a new one at another bank. 8 [+ obj] : to end the use of (a file, document, or program) on a computer
▪ Remember to save the file before closing it. 9 [+ obj] : to formally accept (an agreement)
▪ They just closed a deal to take ownership of a new restaurant. ▪ the custom of closing a deal by shaking hands — see also close on (below) 10 [no obj] : to reach a specified price or level at the end of the day
▪ The stock opened at $19 a share and closed at $22. ▪ Stocks opened weak but closed strong. 11 : to reduce the amount of distance or difference between two things, people, or groups [+ obj] ▪ The challenger has closed [=narrowed] the champion's lead to within two points. ▪ closing the distance to the lead runner ▪ These changes will help close the gap between the richest and the poorest countries. [no obj] ▪ She has closed to within two points of the champion.
▪ Remember to close the box of cereal when you're done.
b : to bring together the edges of (a wound) so that it can heal [+ obj] ▪ It took 10 stitches to close the wound on his head. [no obj] ▪ The cut eventually closed [=closed up, healed over] on its own.
b : to stop the services or activities of (a business, school, etc.) permanently [+ obj] ▪ They closed [=closed down, shut down] the school/factory/office last year. [no obj] ▪ The restaurant has closed for lack of business. ▪ The play closed [=it stopped being performed] after 112 performances.
▪ I closed [=closed out] my savings account and opened up a new one at another bank.
▪ Remember to save the file before closing it.
▪ They just closed a deal to take ownership of a new restaurant. ▪ the custom of closing a deal by shaking hands — see also close on (below)
▪ The stock opened at $19 a share and closed at $22. ▪ Stocks opened weak but closed strong.
close down [phrasal verb] 1 a : to permanently stop operating : close
▪ The factory closed down in the 1980s.
b Brit : to stop broadcasting from a radio or television station for the day
▪ We're closing down for the night: tune in again tomorrow morning! 2 close down (something) or close (something) down : to permanently stop the services or activities of (a business, school, etc.)
▪ They closed down [=closed, shut down] the school due to financial problems. — see also closedown
▪ The factory closed down in the 1980s.
b Brit : to stop broadcasting from a radio or television station for the day
▪ We're closing down for the night: tune in again tomorrow morning!
▪ They closed down [=closed, shut down] the school due to financial problems. — see also closedown
close in [phrasal verb]
: to come or move nearer or closer
▪ The storm is closing in [=approaching] fast. ▪ Enemy troops are closing in all around us! ▪ The lions closed in for the kill. ▪ I felt that the world was closing in around me. ▪ The air became colder as night/darkness closed in. [=as darkness fell, as the night became dark] — often + on ▪ The fire was closing in on their neighborhood. ▪ The camera slowly closed in on the actor's face. ▪ Police were closing in on the two men. ▪ Researchers are closing in on [=they are close to finding] a cure for the disease. ▪ She's closing in on 40. [=she is almost 40 years old]
▪ The storm is closing in [=approaching] fast. ▪ Enemy troops are closing in all around us! ▪ The lions closed in for the kill. ▪ I felt that the world was closing in around me. ▪ The air became colder as night/darkness closed in. [=as darkness fell, as the night became dark] — often + on ▪ The fire was closing in on their neighborhood. ▪ The camera slowly closed in on the actor's face. ▪ Police were closing in on the two men. ▪ Researchers are closing in on [=they are close to finding] a cure for the disease. ▪ She's closing in on 40. [=she is almost 40 years old]
close off [phrasal verb]
close off (something) or close (something) off : to not allow (something) to be used for a period of time : close
▪ The city closed off the beach to tourists. ▪ closing off a road with barriers ▪ Half of the museum was closed off while they made the changes. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ He closes himself off to new experiences. [=he does not allow himself to have new experiences]
▪ The city closed off the beach to tourists. ▪ closing off a road with barriers ▪ Half of the museum was closed off while they made the changes. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ He closes himself off to new experiences. [=he does not allow himself to have new experiences]
close on [phrasal verb]
close on (something) US : to formally and legally agree to and complete (an important financial arrangement, such as the purchase of a house)
▪ We're going to close on our house next Friday. ▪ They closed on the deal. — see also 1close 9 (above)
▪ We're going to close on our house next Friday. ▪ They closed on the deal. — see also 1close 9 (above)
close out [phrasal verb]
close out (something) 1 US : to quickly sell (all of a particular type of product in a store) at a lower price
▪ We're closing out our entire stock of children's clothing! Come and pick up some bargains! — see also closeout 2 : to stop keeping money in (a bank account)
▪ She withdrew all her money and closed out [=closed] her account. 3 : to end (something) in a specified way
▪ The team closed out the series with a 2–1 win over New York. ▪ She closed out her remarkable career with a final grand performance.
▪ We're closing out our entire stock of children's clothing! Come and pick up some bargains! — see also closeout
▪ She withdrew all her money and closed out [=closed] her account.
▪ The team closed out the series with a 2–1 win over New York. ▪ She closed out her remarkable career with a final grand performance.
close ranks — see 1rank
close the door on — see door
close up [phrasal verb] 1 a : to close and lock all the doors of a building usually for a short period of time
▪ Businesses closed up [=closed] early so employees could attend the parade. ▪ We've closed up for the day. Please come back tomorrow.
b close (something) up or close up (something) : to close and lock all the doors of (a house, store, etc.)
▪ They closed up the house and left town. ◊To close up shop is to go out of business forever or stop performing all services or activities for a period of time.
▪ Rather than closing up shop entirely, the company laid off half of its workers. ▪ The restaurant has already closed up shop for the winter. 2 : to move closer together
▪ The troops closed up and prepared to begin the attack. 3 of a wound : to become completely healed
▪ The cut eventually closed up [=closed] on its own. 4 : to become quiet : to stop talking about your thoughts or emotions with other people
▪ She closes up when people ask her about her parents. 5 close (something) up or close up (something) : to bring (people or things) closer together
▪ Close up the spaces between the lines.
▪ Businesses closed up [=closed] early so employees could attend the parade. ▪ We've closed up for the day. Please come back tomorrow.
b close (something) up or close up (something) : to close and lock all the doors of (a house, store, etc.)
▪ They closed up the house and left town. ◊To close up shop is to go out of business forever or stop performing all services or activities for a period of time.
▪ Rather than closing up shop entirely, the company laid off half of its workers. ▪ The restaurant has already closed up shop for the winter.
▪ The troops closed up and prepared to begin the attack.
▪ The cut eventually closed up [=closed] on its own.
▪ She closes up when people ask her about her parents.
▪ Close up the spaces between the lines.
close your doors — see door
close your eyes to — see 1eye
