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“Close” or “Clothes”

close / clothes are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term.

Definitions

What each term means

Same sound, different spellings and meanings, shown with a pronunciation guide for each term.

close k·l·OW·s

  • verbmove so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut.
  • verbbecome closed.
  • verbfinish or terminate (meetings, speeches, etc.).
  • verbcomplete a business deal, negotiation, or an agreement.
  • verbbe priced or listed when trading stops.
  • verbengage at close quarters.
  • verbcause a window or an application to disappear on a computer desktop.
  • verbchange one's body stance so that the forward shoulder and foot are closer to the intended point of impact.
  • verbcome together, as if in an embrace.
  • verbdraw near.
  • verbbring together all the elements or parts of.
  • verbbar access to.
  • verbfill or stop up.
  • verbfinish a game in baseball by protecting a lead.
  • adjectiveat or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other.
  • adjectiveclose in relevance or relationship.
  • adjectiverigorously attentive; strict and thorough.
  • adjectivemarked by fidelity to an original.
  • adjective(of a contest or contestants) evenly matched.
  • adjectivecrowded.
  • adjectiveof textiles.
  • adjectivestrictly confined or guarded.
  • adjectiveconfined to specific persons.
  • adjectivefitting closely but comfortably.
  • adjectiveused of hair or haircuts.
  • adjectiveinclined to secrecy or reticence about divulging information.
  • adverbin an attentive manner.

clothes k·l·OW·dh·z

No dictionary entry for this spelling — see the usage examples below for how it shows up in writing.

Usage

Examples in context

Real sentences for each spelling. Hover an example to copy it.

“close”

  • the Uznach to Wattwil line, close to the western portal of
  • Waßmannsdorf is situated close to the runway of Berlin
  • November 2015 Michelin decided to close their Ballymena factory after 50
  • west of the same road, close to a path in the
  • common code base or very close development based on the new
  • area of the Vänern lake, close to her home town, Mariestad,
  • the West Wales line stood close to the site of the
  • Berlin and Copenhagen, seemed to close the last phase of the
  • study addresses the self-expansion model: close relationships can lead to an
  • of improvisational theater also Del Close had an important function, as

“clothes”

  • to withhold money for new clothes until he applies himself.
  • army conceivably would have lacked clothes, provisions, and most especially, arms."
  • from female models wearing brand clothes to quirky images such as
  • become rich, he still bought clothes in Salvation Army stores.
  • stranger wearing her late husband clothes.
  • the punkers made their own clothes.
  • enabled Heck to don civilian clothes before surrendering to the advancing
  • him to ruin his dress clothes; this enraged Young who then
  • death squad dressed in civilian clothes and traveled in anonymous vehicles
  • and starts taking items like clothes, food, books, and money.

Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions are drawn from WordNet.

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