Idioms for close

Origin of close

before 1050; (noun, adj.) Middle English clos < Anglo-French, Old French < Latin clausus, past participle of claudere to close (cf. clause); (v.) Middle English closen, verbal derivative of the adj. (compare Old English clȳsan, beclȳsan to shut in, enclose, verbal derivative of clūse bar, enclosure < Medieval Latin clūsa, for Latin clausa, feminine of clausus); noun and adj. senses with voiced pronunciation of s are presumably modern deverbal derivatives

synonym study for close

2. Close, shut mean to cause something not to be open. Close suggests blocking an opening or vacant place: to close a breach in a wall. The word shut refers especially to blocking or barring openings intended for entering and leaving: to shut a door, gate, etc., and close can be used in this sense, too: to close a door, gate, etc. 48. See stingy1. 59. See end1.

OTHER WORDS FROM close

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH close

close clothes cloze

British Dictionary definitions for close out (1 of 3)

close out
/ (kləʊz) /

verb

(adverb) to terminate (a client's or other account) on which the margin is inadequate or exhausted, usually by sale of securities to realize cash

British Dictionary definitions for close out (2 of 3)

close 1
/ (kləʊs) /

adjective

adverb

Derived forms of close

closely, adverb closeness, noun

Word Origin for close

C13: from Old French clos close, enclosed, from Latin clausus shut up, from claudere to close

British Dictionary definitions for close out (3 of 3)

close 2
/ (kləʊz) /

verb

noun

Derived forms of close

closer, noun

Idioms and Phrases with close out (1 of 2)

close out

1

Also, close something out. Dispose of a stock of goods; end a business. For example, We are closing out all our china, or They've decided to close out their downtown branch. This expression is most often used in business and commerce but occasionally refers to other matters. [Late 1800s]

2

close someone out. Prevent someone's entry or inclusion, as in No one will tell us about the merger—we've been closed out. [Second half of 1900s]

Idioms and Phrases with close out (2 of 2)

close