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1. (superlative of 'near' or 'close') within the shortest distance
   - nearest, nighest

1. At or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
   "close to noon"; "how close are we to town?"; "a close formation of ships"
    
2. Close in relevance or relationship
   "a close family"; "we are all...in close sympathy with..."; "close kin"; "a close resemblance"
    
3. Not far distant in time, space, degree or circumstances
   "she was close to tears"; "had a close call";
   - near, nigh
    
4. Rigorously attentive; strict and thorough
   "close supervision"; "paid close attention"; "a close study"; "kept a close watch on expenditures"
    
5. Marked by fidelity to an original
   "a close translation";
   - faithful
    
6. (of a contest or contestants) evenly matched
   "a close contest";
   - tight
    
7. In close proximity; crowded
   "close quarters";
   - confining
    
8. Lacking fresh air
   "the dreadfully close atmosphere";
   - airless, stuffy, unaired
    
9. (of textiles) having little space between threads; dense
   "a close weave";
   - tight
    
10. Strictly confined or guarded
    "kept under close custody"
     
11. Confined to specific persons
    "a close secret"
     
12. Fitting closely but comfortably
    "a close fit";
    - snug, close-fitting
     
13. Used of hair or haircuts
    "a close military haircut"
     
14. Giving or spending with reluctance
    "very close with his money";
    - cheeseparing, near, penny-pinching, skinny
     
15. Inclined to secrecy or reticence about divulging information
    "although they knew her whereabouts her friends kept close about it";
    - closelipped, closemouthed, secretive, tightlipped

See also: accurate, adjacent, adpressed, ambient, appressed, approach, approaching, approximate, at hand, boon, buddy-buddy [informal], careful, chummy [informal], circumferent, close at hand, close set, close together, close-hauled, close-knit, closely knit, close-set, coming, confidential, confined, contiguous, cosy [Brit, Cdn], cozy [N. Amer], dear, distance, encompassing, enveloping, equal, familiar, fine, good, hand-to-hand, hot [informal], immediate, imminent, impendent, impending, incommunicative, intimate, juxtaposed, near, nearby, nestled, next, private, proximate, restrained, scalelike, short, side by side, snuggled, stingy [informal], surrounding, thick [informal], tight, uncommunicative, ungenerous, unventilated, walking, walk-to, warm [informal]

Antonym: distant, remote

Encyclopedia: Close, Oliver