Definition of close1

close1verb

đóng1

/kləʊz//kləʊz/

Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French clos-, stem of clore, from Latin claudere ‘to shut’.

window/door, etc.

to put something into a position so that it covers an opening; to get into this position

Example:
  • He closed the door firmly.
  • Would anyone mind if I closed the window?
  • She closed the gate behind her.
  • It's dark now—let's close the curtains.
  • I closed my eyes against the bright light.
  • The doors open and close automatically.
Extra examples:
  • She gently closed the door behind her.
  • She closed her eyes and fell asleep immediately.
  • He closed his ears to the noise.
  • The gates can be opened and closed at the touch of a button.

Related words and phrases

book/umbrella, etc.

to move the parts of something together so that it is no longer open

Example:
  • to close a book/an umbrella
  • He ate greedily, without closing his mouth.

Related words and phrases

shop/store/business, etc.

to make the work of a shop, etc. stop for a period of time; to not be open for people to use

Example:
  • The school was closed because of the heavy snow.
  • The museum has been closed for renovation.
  • The road was closed to traffic for two days.
  • The castle has been closed to visitors because of the royal wedding.
  • What time does the bank close?
  • We close for lunch between twelve and two.
Extra examples:
  • Tomorrow college officially closes for the vacation.
  • The museum has been temporarily closed to the public.
  • On Friday, all the offices were closed for the parade.
  • The shops don't close until 10 p.m.
  • She urged them not to close their borders to refugees.
  • The canal is rarely closed for repair work.
  • They have closed two stations for repairs.

Related words and phrases

if a company, shop, etc. closes, or if you close it, it stops operating as a business

Example:
  • The hospital closed at the end of last year.
  • The play closed after just three nights.
  • The club was closed by the police.
  • All the steelworks around here were closed down in the 1980s.
Extra examples:
  • It was a pity the business closed.
  • They are closing their Liverpool factory.
  • That factory's been closed down now.
  • The plant will be closed in February with the loss of almost 400 jobs.
  • The programme may be forced to close due to a dramatic rent increase.
  • The decision to close a business can be challenging.
  • The company has announced plans to close three factories and lay off 600 workers.

Related words and phrases

end

to end or make something end

Example:
  • The meeting will close at 10.00 p.m.
  • The offer closes at the end of the week.
  • I will close with a few words about future events.
  • to close a meeting/debate
  • to close a case/an investigation
  • to close an account (= to stop keeping money in a bank account)
  • The subject is now closed (= we will not discuss it again).
Extra examples:
  • A police spokesman said that the case was now closed.
  • Mr Hunt then closed the debate for the government.
  • The festival closed with a rousing chorus of 'Jerusalem'.
  • The police have now closed the file on him.
  • Counting of votes will begin when the polls close.
  • She felt she had closed that chapter in her life.

Related words and phrases

to arrange and settle a business deal

Example:
  • Right now we are trying to close the deal with our sponsors.

to put an end to a mistake in something that causes a security risk or gives somebody an unfair advantage

Example:
  • The company acted quickly to close a security hole in its online systems.
  • Congressional leaders have agreed to close a loophole that gave small businesses a big tax break for buying SUVs.
computers

to stop using a computer program or file and put it away

Example:
  • Once I got a few apps closed, it started working again.
finance

to be worth a particular amount at the end of the day’s business

Example:
  • Shares in the company closed at 265p.
  • closing prices
distance/difference

to make the distance or difference between two people or things smaller; to become smaller or narrower

Example:
  • These measures are aimed at closing the gap between rich and poor.
  • The gap between the two top teams is closing all the time.
cover and hold

to cover somebody/something and hold them/it, or to make something do this

Example:
  • She closed her hand over his.
  • Her hand closed over his.
electrical circuit

to make an electrical circuit continuous

Example:
  • When a finger touches the panel, it closes the circuit.

Idioms

close the book on something
to stop doing something because you no longer believe you will be successful or will find a solution
  • The police have closed the book on the case (= they have stopped trying to solve it).
    • close/shut the door on something
    to make it unlikely that something will happen
  • She was careful not to close the door on the possibility of further talks.
    • close its doors | close shop
    to stop trading
  • The factory closed its doors for the last time in 2009.
  • The company closed shop and left the US last year.
    • close your mind to something
    to refuse to think about something as a possibility
    close ranks
    if a group of people close ranks, they work closely together to defend themselves, especially when they are being criticized
  • It's not unusual for the police to close ranks when one of their officers is being investigated.
    • if soldiers close ranks, they move closer together in order to defend themselves
    shut/close your ears to something
    to refuse to listen to something
  • She decided to shut her ears to all the rumours.
    • shut/close your eyes to something
    to pretend that you have not noticed something so that you do not have to deal with it
  • You can't just close your eyes to his violence.
  • They seem intent on shutting their eyes to the problems of pollution.
    • with your eyes shut/closed
    very easily, without thinking about it
  • I've made this trip so often, I could do it with my eyes shut.