CLOSE Close, a. [Compar. Closer; superl. Closest.] Etym: [Of. & F. clos, p. p. of clore. See Close, v. t.]
1. Shut fast; closed; tight; as, a close box. From a close bower this dainty music flowed. Dryden.
2. Narrow; confined; as, a close alley; close quarters. "A close prison." Dickens.
3. Oppressive; without motion or ventilation; causing a feeling of lassitude; — said of the air, weather, etc. If the rooms be low-roofed, or full of windows and doors, the one maketh the air close, . . . and the other maketh it exceeding unequal. Bacon.
4. Strictly confined; carefully quarded; as, a close prisoner.
5. Out of the way observation; secluded; secret; hidden. "He yet kept himself close because of Saul." 1 Chron. xii. 1 "Her close intent." Spenser.
6. Disposed to keep secrets; secretive; reticent. "For servecy, no lady closer." Shak.
7. Having the parts near each other; dense; solid; compact; as applied to bodies; viscous; tenacious; not volatile, as applied to liquids. The golden globe being put into a press, . . . the water made itself way through the pores of that very close metal. Locke.
8. Concise; to the point; as, close reasoning. "Where the original is close no version can reach it in the same compass." Dryden.
9. Adjoining; near; either in space; time, or thought; — often followed by to. Plant the spring crocuses close to a wall. Mortimer. The thought of the Man of sorrows seemed a very close thing — not a faint hearsay. G. Eliot.