foreclose

[ fawr-klohz, fohr- ]
/ fɔrˈkloʊz, foʊr- /

verb (used with object), fore·closed, fore·clos·ing.

Law.
  1. to deprive (a mortgagor or pledgor) of the right to redeem his or her property, especially on failure to make payment on a mortgage when due, ownership of property then passing to the mortgagee.
  2. to take away the right to redeem (a mortgage or pledge).
to shut out; exclude; bar.
to hinder or prevent, as from doing something.
to establish an exclusive claim to.
to close, settle, or answer beforehand.

verb (used without object), fore·closed, fore·clos·ing.

to foreclose a mortgage or pledge.

Origin of foreclose

1250–1300; Middle English foreclosen < Old French forclos, past participle of forclore to exclude, equivalent to for- out + clore to shut (< Latin claudere)

OTHER WORDS FROM foreclose

fore·clos·a·ble, adjective non·fore·clos·ing, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for foreclose

British Dictionary definitions for foreclose

foreclose
/ (fɔːˈkləʊz) /

verb

law to deprive (a mortgagor, etc) of the right to redeem (a mortgage or pledge)
(tr) to shut out; bar
(tr) to prevent or hinder
(tr) to answer or settle (an obligation, promise, etc) in advance
(tr) to make an exclusive claim to

Derived forms of foreclose

foreclosable, adjective foreclosure (fɔːˈkləʊʒə), noun

Word Origin for foreclose

C15: from Old French forclore, from for- out + clore to close, from Latin claudere