Close vs. Open

Close vs. Open — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Close and Open

Closeverb

(physical) To remove a gap.

Openadjective

(not comparable) Not closed; accessible; unimpeded.

Turn left after the second open door.It was as if his body had gone to sleep standing up and with his eyes open.

Closeverb

To obstruct (an opening).

Openadjective

Not drawn together, closed, or contracted; extended; expanded.

an open hand; an open flower; an open prospect

Closeverb

To move so that an opening is closed.

Close the door behind you when you leave.Jim was listening to headphones with his eyes closed.

Openadjective

(not comparable) Actively conducting or prepared to conduct business.

Banks are not open on bank holidays.
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Closeverb

To make (e.g. a gap) smaller.

The runner in second place is closing the gap on the leader.to close the ranks of an army

Openadjective

(comparable) Receptive.

I am open to new ideas.

Closeverb

To grapple; to engage in close combat.

Openadjective

(not comparable) Public

He published an open letter to the governor on a full page of the New York Times.

Closeverb

(social) To finish, to terminate.

Openadjective

(not comparable) Candid, ingenuous, not subtle in character.

The man is an open book.
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Closeverb

To put an end to; to conclude; to complete; to finish; to consummate.

close the session;to close a bargain;to close a course of instruction

Openadjective

Having a free variable.

Closeverb

To come to an end.

The debate closed at six o'clock.

Openadjective

Which is part of a predefined collection of subsets of X, that defines a topological space on X.

Closeverb

(marketing) To make a sale.

Openadjective

Whose first and last vertices are different.

Closeverb

To make the final outs, usually three, of a game.

He has closed the last two games for his team.

Openadjective

In current use; mapped to part of memory.

I couldn't save my changes because another user had the same file open.

Closeverb

To terminate an application, window, file or database connection, etc.

Openadjective

(business) Not fulfilled.

I've got open orders for as many containers of red durum as you can get me.

Closeverb

To come or gather around; to enclose; to encompass; to confine.

Openadjective

Not settled or adjusted; not decided or determined; not closed or withdrawn from consideration.

an open questionto keep an offer or opportunity open

Closeverb

(surveying) To have a vector sum of 0; that is, to form a closed polygon.

Openadjective

Without any fingers pressing the string against the fingerboard.

Closenoun

An end or conclusion.

We owe them our thanks for bringing the project to a successful close.

Openadjective

Not of a quality to prevent communication, as by closing waterways, blocking roads, etc.; hence, not frosty or inclement; mild; used of the weather or the climate.

an open winter

Closenoun

The manner of shutting; the union of parts; junction.

Openadjective

(phonetics) Uttered with a relatively wide opening of the articulating organs; said of vowels.

Closenoun

A grapple in wrestling.

Openadjective

(phonetics) Uttered, as a consonant, with the oral passage simply narrowed without closure.

Closenoun

(music) The conclusion of a strain of music; cadence.

Openadjective

That ends in a vowel; not having a coda.

Closenoun

(music) A double bar marking the end.

Openadjective

(computing) Made public, usable with a free licence.

Closenoun

An enclosed field.

Openadjective

(medicine) Resulting from an incision, puncture or any other process by which the skin no longer protects an internal part of the body.

Closenoun

(British) A street that ends in a dead end.

Openverb

(transitive) To make something accessible or allow for passage by moving from a shut position.

Turn the doorknob to open the door.

Closenoun

(Scotland) A very narrow alley between two buildings, often overhung by one of the buildings above the ground floor.

Openverb

(transitive) To make (an open space, etc.) by clearing away an obstacle or obstacles, in order to allow for passage, access, or visibility.

He opened a path through the undergrowth.

Closenoun

(Scotland) The common staircase in a tenement.

Openverb

(transitive) To bring up, broach.

I don't want to open that subject.

Closenoun

A cathedral close.

Openverb

(transitive) To enter upon, begin.

to open a discussionto open fire upon an enemyto open trade, or correspondenceto open a case in court, or a meeting

Closenoun

(legal) The interest which one may have in a piece of ground, even though it is not enclosed.

Openverb

(transitive) To spread; to expand into an open or loose position.

to open a closed fistto open matted cotton by separating the fibresto open a map, book, or scroll

Closeadjective

Closed, shut.

Openverb

(transitive) To make accessible to customers or clients.

I will open the shop an hour early tomorrow.

Closeadjective

Narrow; confined.

a close alley; close quarters

Openverb

(transitive) To start (a campaign).

Vermont will open elk hunting season next week.

Closeadjective

At a little distance; near.

Is your house close?

Openverb

(intransitive) To become open.

The door opened all by itself.

Closeadjective

Intimate; well-loved.

He is a close friend.

Openverb

(intransitive) To begin conducting business.

The shop opens at 9:00.

Closeadjective

(legal) Of a corporation or other business entity, closely held.

Openverb

To begin a side's innings as one of the first two batsmen.

Closeadjective

Oppressive; without motion or ventilation; causing a feeling of lassitude.

Openverb

To bet before any other player has in a particular betting round in a game of poker.

After the first two players fold, Julie opens for $5.

Closeadjective

Hot, humid, with no wind.

Openverb

To reveal one's hand.

Jeff opens his hand revealing a straight flush.

Closeadjective

Articulated with the tongue body relatively close to the hard palate.

Openverb

To load into memory for viewing or editing.

Closeadjective

Strictly confined; carefully guarded.

a close prisoner

Openverb

(obsolete) To disclose; to reveal; to interpret; to explain.

Closeadjective

(obsolete) Out of the way of observation; secluded; secret; hidden.

Opennoun

A sports event in which anybody can compete; as, the Australian Open.

Closeadjective

Nearly equal; almost evenly balanced.

a close contest

Opennoun

(electronics) A wire that is broken midway.

The electrician found the open in the circuit after a few minutes of testing.

Closeadjective

Short.

to cut grass or hair close

Opennoun

(with the) Open or unobstructed space; an exposed location.

I can't believe you left the lawnmower out in the open when you knew it was going to rain this afternoon!Wary of hunters, the fleeing deer kept well out of the open, dodging instead from thicket to thicket.

Closeadjective

(archaic) Dense; solid; compact.

Opennoun

(with the) Public knowledge or scrutiny; full view.

We have got to bring this company's corrupt business practices into the open.

Closeadjective

(archaic) Concise; to the point.

close reasoning

Opennoun

a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water;

finally broke out of the forest into the open

Closeadjective

(dated) Difficult to obtain.

Money is close.

Opennoun

where the air is unconfined;

he wanted to get outdoors a littlethe concert was held in the open aircamping in the open

Closeadjective

(dated) Parsimonious; stingy.

Opennoun

a tournament in which both professionals and amateurs may play

Closeadjective

Adhering strictly to a standard or original; exact.

a close translation

Opennoun

information that has become public;

all the reports were out in the openthe facts had been brought to the surface

Closeadjective

Accurate; careful; precise; also, attentive; undeviating; strict.

The patient was kept under close observation.

Openverb

cause to open or to become open;

Mary opened the car door

Closeadjective

Marked, evident.

Openverb

start to operate or function or cause to start operating or functioning;

open a business

Closenoun

the temporal end; the concluding time;

the stopping point of each round was signaled by a bellthe market was up at the finishthey were playing better at the close of the season

Openverb

become open;

The door opened

Closenoun

the last section of a communication;

in conclusion I want to say...

Openverb

begin or set in action, of meetings, speeches, recitals, etc.;

He opened the meeting with a long speech

Closenoun

the concluding part of any performance

Openverb

spread out or open from a closed or folded state;

open the mapspread your arms

Closeverb

cease to operate or cause to cease operating;

The owners decided to move and to close the factoryMy business closes every night at 8 P.M.

Openverb

make available;

This opens up new possibilities

Closeverb

complete a business deal, negotiation, or an agreement;

We closed on the house on FridayThey closed the deal on the building

Openverb

become available;

an opportunity opened up

Closeverb

move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut;

Close the doorshut the window

Openverb

have an opening or passage or outlet;

The bedrooms open into the hall

Closeverb

bar access to;

Due to the accident, the road had to be closed for several hours

Openverb

make the opening move;

Kasparov opened with a standard opening

Closeverb

finish or terminate (meetings, speeches, etc.);

The meeting was closed with a charge by the chairman of the board

Openverb

afford access to;

the door opens to the patioThe French doors give onto a terrace

Closeverb

draw near;

The probe closed with the space station

Openverb

display the contents of a file or start an application as on a computer

Closeverb

come to a close;

The concert closed with a nocturne by Chopin

Openadjective

affording unobstructed entrance and exit; not shut or closed;

an open doorthey left the door open

Closeverb

become closed;

The windows closed with a loud bang

Openadjective

affording free passage or access;

open drainsthe road is open to trafficopen ranks

Closeverb

come together, as if in an embrace;

Her arms closed around her long lost relative

Openadjective

with no protection or shield;

the exposed northeast frontieropen to the weatheran open wound

Closeverb

unite or bring into contact or bring together the edges of;

close the circuitclose a wound

Openadjective

open to or in view of all;

an open protestan open letter to the editor

Closeverb

bring together all the elements or parts of;

Management closed ranks

Openadjective

used of mouth or eyes;

keep your eyes openhis mouth slightly opened

Closeverb

engage at close quarters;

close with the enemy

Openadjective

not having been filled;

the job is still open

Closeverb

be priced or listed when trading stops;

The stock market closed high this FridayMy new stocks closed at $59 last night

Openadjective

accessible to all;

open seasonan open economy

Closeverb

cause a window or an application to disappear on a computer desktop

Openadjective

not defended or capable of being defended;

an open cityopen to attack

Closeverb

change one's body stance so that the forward shoulder and foot are closer to the intended point of impact

Openadjective

(of textures) full of small openings or gaps;

an open texturea loose weave

Closeverb

fill or stop up;

Can you close the cracks with caulking?

Openadjective

having no protecting cover or enclosure;

an open boatan open fireopen sports cars

Closeverb

finish a game in baseball by protecting a lead;

The relief pitcher closed with two runs in the second inning

Openadjective

opened out;

an open newspaper

Closeadjective

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other;

close to noonhow close are we to town?a close formation of ships

Openadjective

of a set; containing points whose neighborhood consists of other points of the same set, or being the complement of an open set; of an interval; containing neither of its end points

Closeadjective

close in relevance or relationship;

a close familywe are all...in close sympathy with...close kina close resemblance

Openadjective

not brought to a conclusion; subject to further thought;

an open questionour position on this bill is still undecidedour lawsuit is still undetermined

Closeadjective

not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances;

near neighborsin the near futurethey are near equalshis nearest approach to successa very near thinga near hit by the bombshe was near tearsshe was close to tearshad a close call

Openadjective

not sealed or having been unsealed;

the letter was already openthe opened package lay on the table

Closeadjective

rigorously attentive; strict and thorough;

close supervisionpaid close attentiona close studykept a close watch on expenditures

Openadjective

without undue constriction as from e.g. tenseness or inhibition;

the clarity and resonance of an open toneher natural and open response

Closeadjective

marked by fidelity to an original;

a close translationa faithful copy of the portraita faithful rendering of the observed facts

Openadjective

relatively empty of and unobstructed by fences or hedges or headlands or shoals;

in open countrythe open countrysideopen waterson the open seas

Closeadjective

(of a contest or contestants) evenly matched;

a close contesta close electiona tight game

Openadjective

open and observable; not secret or hidden;

an overt lieovert hostilityovert intelligence gathering

Closeadjective

crowded;

close quarters

Openadjective

used of string or hole or pipe of instruments

Closeadjective

lacking fresh air;

a dusty airless atticthe dreadfully close atmospherehot and stuffy and the air was blue with smoke

Openadjective

not requiring union membership;

an open shop employs nonunion workers

Closeadjective

of textiles;

a close weavesmooth percale with a very tight weave

Openadjective

possibly accepting or permitting;

a passage capable of misinterpretationopen to interpretationan issue open to questionthe time is fixed by the director and players and therefore subject to much variation

Closeadjective

strictly confined or guarded;

kept under close custody

Openadjective

not secret;

open plansan open ballot

Closeadjective

confined to specific persons;

a close secret

Openadjective

without any attempt at concealment; completely obvious;

open disregard of the lawopen family strifeopen hostilitya blatant appeal to vanitya blazing indiscretion

Closeadjective

fitting closely but comfortably;

a close fit

Openadjective

affording free passage or view;

a clear viewa clear path to victory

Closeadjective

used of hair or haircuts;

a close military haircut

Openadjective

lax in enforcing laws;

an open town

Closeadjective

giving or spending with reluctance;

our cheeseparing administrationvery close (or near) with his moneya penny-pinching miserly old man

Openadjective

openly straightforward and direct without reserve or secretiveness;

his candid eyesan open and trusting naturea heart-to-heart talk

Closeadjective

inclined to secrecy or reticence about divulging information;

although they knew her whereabouts her friends kept close about it

Openadjective

sincere and free of reserve in expression;

Please be open with me

Closeadverb

near in time or place or relationship;

as the wedding day drew nearstood near the doordon't shoot until they come neargetting near to the true explanationher mother is always nearThe end draws nighthe bullet didn't come closedon't get too close to the fire

Openadjective

receptive to new ideas;

an open mindopen to new ideas

Closeadverb

in an attentive manner;

he remained close on his guard

Openadjective

ready for business;

the stores are open