1. (superlative of ‘near’ or ‘close’) within the shortest distance
   "She sat closest to the stage";
   - nearest, nighest [archaic]

1. At or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
   "a close formation of ships"; "close to noon"; "how close are we to town?"
    
2. Not far distant in time, space, degree or circumstances
   "she was close to tears"; "had a close call";
   - near, nigh
    
3. Close in relevance or relationship
   "close kin"; "a close resemblance"; "a close family"; "we are all … in close sympathy with …"
    
4. In close proximity; crowded
   "close quarters";
   - confining
    
5. Fitting closely but comfortably
   "a close fit"; "She wore a close-fitting dress to the gala";
   - snug, close-fitting
    
6. (of textiles) having little space between threads; dense
   "a close weave";
   - tight
    
7. Lacking fresh air
   "the dreadfully close atmosphere";
   - airless, stuffy, unaired
    
8. Rigorously attentive; strict and thorough
   "a close study"; "kept a close watch on expenditures"; "close supervision"; "paid close attention"
    
9. Strictly confined or guarded
   "kept under close custody"
    
10. Confined to specific persons
    "a close secret"
     
11. Used of hair or haircuts
    "a close military haircut"
     
12. Marked by fidelity to an original
    "a close translation";
    - faithful
     
13. (of a contest or contestants) evenly matched
    "a close contest";
    - tight
     
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, bosom, buddy-buddy [informal], careful, chummy [informal], circumferent, close at hand, close by, 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, far

Encyclopedia: Close, Nicholas