Close Meaning

UK /kləʊz/
US /kloʊz/
Word Definition
close meaning

Close Definition & Usage

adjective

Located near in distance or time.

Examples

  • "The store is close to my house, just a five-minute walk."
  • "They are close friends and have known each other for years."
  • "The deadline is close, so we need to finish the project soon."
  • "She held the baby close to her chest for warmth."
  • "We were so close to winning the championship, but we lost in the final."
verb

To bring two parts together so as to block the gap or seal the opening.

Examples

  • "Please close the door when you leave."
  • "He closed the window to block the cold wind."
  • "She closed the book and set it on the shelf."
  • "The shop closes at 8 PM every day."
  • "The surgeon closed the wound after the operation."
adjective

Being emotionally or personally near to someone, often implying a deep bond.

Examples

  • "They are very close as siblings, sharing everything with each other."
  • "Her close relationship with her grandmother was a source of comfort."
  • "We have a close-knit team that works well together."
  • "He felt a close connection to the people in his community."
  • "The two teams are so close in skill, it's difficult to predict the winner."
noun

A situation in which two entities or points are near each other.

Examples

  • "The close of the event was marked by a final speech from the CEO."
  • "The close of the agreement came after months of negotiation."
  • "They parted ways at the close of the conference."
  • "At the close of the day, she felt accomplished and content."
  • "The stock market showed a strong performance at the close of trading."

Cultural Context

The word 'close' has a variety of meanings and uses, both literal and figurative. It comes from the Old French 'clos', meaning 'closed' or 'shut'. Over time, its usage expanded to encompass proximity, intimacy, and finality in different contexts.

The Close Call

Story

The Close Call

It was a warm summer afternoon when Ethan and his sister Lily were racing to their favorite ice cream truck. They had been looking forward to this day all week, and it was only a few blocks away. As they ran, the truck started pulling away from the curb, signaling the end of its route. Ethan shouted, 'Hurry up, Lily! We're so close!' They pushed themselves harder, dodging pedestrians and narrowly avoiding a few bikes along the way. Lily was getting tired but didn't want to lose the ice cream truck, so she pushed through the exhaustion. Finally, just as the truck turned the corner, they reached it, breathless but victorious. 'That was way too close,' Ethan laughed, catching his breath as the vendor handed them their cones. They sat down on the curb, licking their ice cream and chatting about their plans for the summer. Despite the close call, they both felt a sense of closeness that only siblings could understand. They had been through so many moments like this together — moments where they raced against time, where they relied on each other, and where they celebrated small victories. Later that evening, as they closed the door to their house, they talked about how they'd grown closer over the years, sharing their thoughts and dreams like never before. It had been a perfect day, marked by close calls and even closer connections.

The Close Call