Skip to main content

closenear in distance, time, or relationship

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: near in distance, time, or relationship

Pronunciation (IPA): /kloʊs/

Example Sentences

  • My exam score was so close to perfect that my mom bought me a pizza to close the celebration!
  • The library closes at 9 PM, so we need to finish our study session.
  • She lives close to the school, which makes her always close to being late because she oversleeps!

close

ADJECTIVE

[/kloʊs/]

near in distance, time, or relationship

A child sits close to their parent during cozy family time
💡 Concept

A child sits close to their parent during cozy family time

Close to the rose that I carefully chose
🎵 Rhyme

Close to the rose that I carefully chose

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/kloʊs/
🇬🇧 UK/kləʊs/

🌳Etymology

Rootclos-
Suffix--e

Origin

The word 'close' derives from Latin 'clausus' (closed, shut), meaning originally 'closed' or 'enclosed.' It entered English through French 'clos' during the Norman period, and subsequently developed the secondary sense of 'near' or 'adjacent' through metaphorical extension.

Breakdown

Latin clausus (closed, shut) → Old French clos → Middle English close. The root 'claus-' relates to Latin 'claudere' (to close, shut), with the past participle 'clausus' forming the base for Romance language derivatives.

🎵Rhyme

thoserosenosechosepose
those
rose
nose
chose
pose

🔗Collocations

close friend
close attention
close the gap
close call
close down
close relationship

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

My exam score was so close to perfect that my mom bought me a pizza to close the celebration!

The library closes at 9 PM, so we need to finish our study session.

😄 Fun example

She lives close to the school, which makes her always close to being late because she oversleeps!

Please close all windows before leaving the classroom.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

nearshutadjacentintimatenearby

Antonyms

faropendistant

Related

closurecloselycloserclosestenclose

Want to master 19,000+ words?

Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.