close

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   in an attentive manner

   We remained close on their guard.

2. 2
   adj

   marked by fidelity to an original

   a close translation

3. 3
   adj

   at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

   close to noon

4. 4
   adj

   close in relevance or relationship

   a close family

5. 5
   adj

   inclined to secrecy or reticence about divulging information

   Although they knew the whereabouts of their friends, they kept close about it.

6. 6
   adj

   crowded

   close quarters

7. 7
   adj

   (of a contest or contestants) evenly matched

   a close contest

8. 8
   adj

   used of hair or haircuts

   a close military haircut

Etymology

From Middle English closen (“to close, enclose”), partly continuing (in altered form) earlier Middle English clusen (“to close”) from Old English clȳsan (“to close, shut”); compare beclose, foreclose, etc.), and partly derived from Middle English clos (“close, shut up, confined, secret”, adjective), from Old French clos (“close, confined”, adjective), from Latin clausus (“shut up”, past participle), from claudere (“to bar, block, close, enclose, bring an end to, confine”), from Proto-Indo-European *kleh₂w- (“key, hook, nail”), related to Latin clāvis (“key, deadbolt, bar”), clāvus (“nail, peg”…