Explanation at your level:
Close means near. If your friend sits next to you, they are close to you. You can say, 'My house is close to the park.' It is a very useful word for talking about places.
You use close to talk about people you like. A close friend is a best friend. You can also use it for time, like 'The holidays are getting close.' It is very common in daily life.
In this level, you start using close in more abstract ways. You might talk about a 'close match' in sports, which means the score was almost the same. You can also use it to describe a 'close resemblance' between two people.
Here, you encounter idioms like 'a close call.' You also learn to distinguish between the adjective (rhyming with 'dose') and the verb (rhyming with 'doze'). It is important to notice the subtle difference in sound.
At the advanced level, you use close in professional and academic settings. You might discuss 'close analysis' of a text or 'close attention' to detail. It implies a high level of scrutiny and precision.
Mastery involves understanding the nuance of close in literary contexts. It can describe a 'close atmosphere' (stuffy or restricted) or 'close reasoning' (logical and tight). It reflects a deep command of English semantics and historical evolution.
واژه در 30 ثانیه
- Means near in distance.
- Means intimate in relationships.
- Pronounced with an /s/ as an adjective.
- Often used with 'to'.
When you use the word close, you are usually talking about distance. It might be physical distance, like saying your house is close to the school, or it might be emotional distance, like having a close relationship with your sister.
Think of it as the opposite of far. If you are close to someone, you share a special bond. It is a very versatile word that pops up in almost every conversation, whether you are talking about where you live or who you love.
The word close comes from the Old French word clos, which meant 'shut' or 'enclosed.' It traces back even further to the Latin word claudere, meaning 'to shut.'
Historically, it referred to things that were shut tight or confined. Over time, the meaning shifted from 'shut tight' to 'near' because things that are enclosed are often packed tightly together. It is fascinating how a word about locking a door became a word about holding a friend near to your heart.
You will hear close used in many ways. We say 'a close friend' to show intimacy. We say 'keep it close' when we want something nearby.
It is used in both formal and casual settings. In business, you might have a 'close call' with a deadline, or in sports, a 'close game.' It is a neutral word that fits into almost any register without sounding out of place.
Close call: A situation where something bad almost happened. That was a close call; I almost missed my train!
Close to home: Something that affects you personally. The movie's message hit close to home for me.
Keep close tabs on: To monitor someone or something carefully. The boss keeps close tabs on our progress.
Close shave: A narrow escape from danger. Driving on that icy road was a close shave.
Close the gap: To reduce the difference between two things. We need to close the gap between our sales goals and reality.
The word close is an adjective. Its IPA pronunciation is /kloʊs/ when used as an adjective, rhyming with 'dose' or 'gross.' Note that when used as a verb (meaning 'to shut'), the 's' sounds like a 'z' (/kloʊz/).
It is often followed by the preposition 'to.' For example, 'I am close to the store' or 'She is close to finishing her homework.' It does not have a plural form because it is an adjective.
Fun Fact
The word originally meant to lock something away.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'closs'
Sounds like 'clohs'
Common Errors
- Mixing up /s/ and /z/
- Mispronouncing the long 'o'
- Adding extra syllables
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
easy
easy
easy
easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
پیشرفته
Grammar to Know
Adjective usage
He is close.
Prepositional phrases
Close to me.
Verb vs Adjective
Close the door vs I am close.
Examples by Level
The park is close to my house.
Park near house
close + to
She is my close friend.
Good friend
adjective
Sit close to me.
Sit near me
adverbial use
The store is close.
It is near
adjective
We are close now.
We are near
adjective
Stay close to your parents.
Stay near
close + to
The end is close.
Almost finished
adjective
He is a close relative.
Family member
adjective
The game was very close.
They are close in age.
Keep your bag close to you.
We live close to the city.
She is a close colleague.
The finish line is close.
Keep a close watch.
It was a close race.
The two candidates were close in the polls.
I have a close relationship with my mentor.
Pay close attention to the instructions.
It was a close call, but we made it.
They bear a close resemblance to each other.
The weather is very close today.
We are close to reaching our goal.
He keeps his friends close.
The company is close to bankruptcy.
There is a close correlation between diet and health.
It was a close shave during the storm.
She is close-mouthed about her plans.
The two teams are closely matched.
He is a close observer of politics.
The secret is kept close to his chest.
A close-knit community is important.
The text requires a close reading.
There is a close affinity between the two styles.
The investigation is reaching a close conclusion.
They maintain a close dialogue with the board.
The room felt close and airless.
His argument is based on close logic.
The two cultures share a close history.
She is a close associate of the CEO.
The close proximity of the buildings is a fire risk.
He is a close-fisted man with his money.
The close-up shot revealed every detail.
She is a close student of ancient history.
The close-quarters combat was intense.
His close-range shot missed.
The close-set eyes gave him a stern look.
The close-fitting dress was elegant.
ترکیبهای رایج
Idioms & Expressions
"close call"
narrow escape
That was a close call!
casual"close to home"
personally affecting
His words hit close to home.
neutral"close ranks"
unite for protection
The team closed ranks.
formal"close shave"
narrow escape
That was a close shave.
casual"keep close tabs on"
watch carefully
Keep close tabs on the budget.
neutral"close the books"
finish a project
It is time to close the books.
businessEasily Confused
similar spelling
closed is a state
The door is closed.
similar meaning
near is more general
It is near.
similar verb meaning
shut is more physical
Shut the door.
similar emotional meaning
intimate is deeper
They are intimate.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + is + close + to + object
I am close to the park.
Subject + is + a + close + friend
He is a close friend.
Subject + is + very + close
They are very close.
Subject + is + close + to + verbing
I am close to finishing.
Subject + keeps + close + tabs + on
She keeps close tabs on him.
خانواده کلمه
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
مرتبط
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
اشتباهات رایج
The verb ends in a /z/ sound, not /s/.
Near does not need 'to'.
Close requires 'to' when indicating distance.
Closed is the past participle/adjective.
Close is for distance, closed is for state.
Tips
Memory Palace
Visualize a door closing.
Native usage
Use it for friends.
Cultural insight
Used in many idioms.
Grammar shortcut
Always use 'to' with distance.
Say it right
Adjective = /s/, Verb = /z/.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with closed.
Did you know?
It comes from Latin.
Study smart
Use flashcards.
Rhyme time
Rhymes with dose.
Context
Use for distance.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Close your door to stay near your home.
Visual Association
Two people standing very close together.
Word Web
چالش
Use 'close' in three sentences today.
ریشه کلمه
Latin
Original meaning: to shut
بافت فرهنگی
None
Used frequently in social settings to describe bonds.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at school
- close to the board
- close friends
- close to the deadline
at work
- close to the goal
- close attention
- close the deal
traveling
- close to the airport
- close to the hotel
- close to the station
socializing
- close family
- close relationship
- close bond
Conversation Starters
"Who is a close friend of yours?"
"Do you live close to your school?"
"What do you pay close attention to?"
"Have you ever had a close call?"
"Are you close to your family?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a close friend.
Write about a time you had a close call.
Why is it important to be close to family?
What are you close to achieving?
سوالات متداول
8 سوالYes, it is often an adjective.
Like 'clohs' with an 's' sound.
Yes, 'the end is close'.
Only when used as a verb.
Closeness.
It is neutral.
Yes, for friends.
Far.
خودت رو بسنج
My house is ___ to the school.
Close indicates distance.
Which means a good friend?
Close friend implies intimacy.
Close can mean to shut.
As a verb, it means to shut.
Word
معنی
Idiomatic meanings.
Subject + verb + adverb + adj + prep + object.
امتیاز: /5
Summary
Close is a versatile word for distance and relationships.
- Means near in distance.
- Means intimate in relationships.
- Pronounced with an /s/ as an adjective.
- Often used with 'to'.
Memory Palace
Visualize a door closing.
Native usage
Use it for friends.
Cultural insight
Used in many idioms.
Grammar shortcut
Always use 'to' with distance.
Related Content
این کلمه در زبانهای دیگر
واژههای بیشتر general
一下儿
A1a bit, a moment
点儿
A1a little bit
有点儿
A1a little, somewhat (negative connotation)
一下
A2A bit; a moment (used after a verb).
一点儿
A1a little, a bit
一会儿
A1a moment, a while
一部分
B1part; portion; minority
异样
B1different; unusual; strange
关于
A1about, concerning
快要
A2to be about to (happen)
