(n.) The European shad (Clupea alosa); -- called also allice shad or allis shad. The name is sometimes applied to the American shad (Clupea sapidissima). See Shad.
(n.) Pottage made by pouring some boiling liquid on meal (esp. oatmeal), and stirring it. It is called beef brose, water brose, etc., according to the name of the liquid (beef broth, hot water, etc.) used.
(n.) To stop, or fill up, as an opening; to shut; as, to close the eyes; to close a door.
(n.) To bring together the parts of; to consolidate; as, to close the ranks of an army; -- often used with up.
(n.) To bring to an end or period; to conclude; to complete; to finish; to end; to consummate; as, to close a bargain; to close a course of instruction.
(n.) To come or gather around; to inclose; to encompass; to confine.
(n.) The manner of shutting; the union of parts; junction.
(n.) Conclusion; cessation; ending; end.
(n.) A grapple in wrestling.
(n.) The conclusion of a strain of music; cadence.
(n.) A double bar marking the end.
(v. i.) To come together; to unite or coalesce, as the parts of a wound, or parts separated.
(v. i.) To end, terminate, or come to a period; as, the debate closed at six o'clock.
(v. i.) To grapple; to engage in hand-to-hand fight.
(v. t.) An inclosed place; especially, a small field or piece of land surrounded by a wall, hedge, or fence of any kind; -- specifically, the precinct of a cathedral or abbey.
(v. t.) A narrow passage leading from a street to a court, and the houses within.
(v. t.) The interest which one may have in a piece of ground, even though it is not inclosed.
(v. t.) Shut fast; closed; tight; as, a close box.
(v. t.) Narrow; confined; as, a close alley; close quarters.
(v. t.) Oppressive; without motion or ventilation; causing a feeling of lassitude; -- said of the air, weather, etc.
(v. t.) Strictly confined; carefully quarded; as, a close prisoner.
(v. t.) Out of the way observation; secluded; secret; hidden.
(v. t.) Disposed to keep secrets; secretive; reticent.
(v. t.) Having the parts near each other; dense; solid; compact; as applied to bodies; viscous; tenacious; not volatile, as applied to liquids.
(v. t.) Concise; to the point; as, close reasoning.
(v. t.) Adjoining; near; either in space; time, or thought; -- often followed by to.
(v. t.) Short; as, to cut grass or hair close.
(v. t.) Intimate; familiar; confidential.
(v. t.) Nearly equal; almost evenly balanced; as, a close vote.
(v. t.) Difficult to obtain; as, money is close.
(v. t.) Parsimonious; stingy.
(v. t.) Adhering strictly to a standard or original; exact; strict; as, a close translation.
(v. t.) Accurate; careful; precise; also, attentive; undeviating; strict; not wandering; as, a close observer.
(v. t.) Uttered with a relatively contracted opening of the mouth, as certain sounds of e and o in French, Italian, and German; -- opposed to open.
(n.) A large cervine mammal (Alces machlis, or A. Americanus), native of the Northern United States and Canada. The adult male is about as large as a horse, and has very large, palmate antlers. It closely resembles the European elk, and by many zoologists is considered the same species. See Elk.
(a.) Pertaining to, or composed of, prose; not in verse; as, prose composition.
(a.) Possessing or exhibiting unpoetical characteristics; plain; dull; prosaic; as, the prose duties of life.
(n.) The ordinary language of men in speaking or writing; language not cast in poetical measure or rhythm; -- contradistinguished from verse, or metrical composition.
(n.) Hence, language which evinces little imagination or animation; dull and commonplace discourse.
(n.) A hymn with no regular meter, sometimes introduced into the Mass. See Sequence.
(v. i.) To write prose.
(v. t.) To write in prose.
(v. t.) To write or repeat in a dull, tedious, or prosy way.