Near
[nɪə] or [nɪr]
Definition
(adj.) not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances; 'near neighbors'; 'in the near future'; 'they are near equals'; 'his nearest approach to success'; 'a very near thing'; 'a near hit by the bomb'; 'she was near tears'; 'she was close to tears'; 'had a close call' .
(adj.) closely resembling the genuine article; 'near beer'; 'a dress of near satin' .
(adj.) being on the left side; 'the near or nigh horse is the one on the left'; 'the animal's left side is its near or nigh side' .
(adv.) near in time or place or relationship; 'as the wedding day drew near'; 'stood near the door'; 'don't shoot until they come near'; 'getting near to the true explanation'; 'her mother is always near'; 'The end draws nigh'; 'the bullet didn't come close'; 'don't get too close to the fire'.
Editor: Spence--From WordNet
Definition
(adv.) At a little distance, in place, time, manner, or degree; not remote; nigh.
(adv.) Nearly; almost; well-nigh.
(adv.) Closely; intimately.
(adv.) Not far distant in time, place, or degree; not remote; close at hand; adjacent; neighboring; nigh.
(adv.) Closely connected or related.
(adv.) Close to one's interests, affection, etc.; touching, or affecting intimately; intimate; dear; as, a near friend.
(adv.) Close to anything followed or imitated; not free, loose, or rambling; as, a version near to the original.
(adv.) So as barely to avoid or pass injury or loss; close; narrow; as, a near escape.
(adv.) Next to the driver, when he is on foot; in the Unted States, on the left of an animal or a team; as, the near ox; the near leg. See Off side, under Off, a.
(a) Immediate; direct; close; short.
(a) Close-fisted; parsimonious.
(prep.) Adjacent to; close by; not far from; nigh; as, the ship sailed near the land. See the Note under near, a.
(adv.) To approach; to come nearer; as, the ship neared the land.
(v. i.) To draw near; to approach.
Checked by Curtis
Synonyms and Synonymous
a. [1]. Nigh, close, neighboring, adjacent, contiguous, proximate, adjoining, not far, not distant, bordering upon, approximate to, close upon, close by, hard upon, close at hand.[2]. Imminent, impending, forthcoming, approaching, threatening, at hand, about to happen, going to happen.[3]. Intimate, dear, familiar, closely allied, closely attached.[4]. Direct, short, straight.
ad. Nearly.
prep. Nigh, close to, close by, not far from.
Editor: Oswald
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Nigh, close, adjacent, neighboring,{(Sometimes_used_in_the_sense_of_parsimonious)}
ANT:Far, distant, remote
Edited by Barton
Definition
adj. nigh: not far away in place or time: close in kin or friendship: dear: following or imitating anything closely: close narrow so as barely to escape: short as a road: greedy stingy: on the left in riding or driving.—adv. at a little distance: almost: closely —prep. close to.—v.t. and v.i. to approach: to come nearer.—adjs. Near′-by adjacent; Near′-hand (Scot.) near—also adv. nearly.—adv. Near′ly at no great distance: closely: intimately: pressingly: almost: stingily.—n. Near′ness the state of being near: closeness: intimacy: close alliance: stinginess.—adj. Near′-sight′ed seeing distinctly only when near myopic short-sighted.—n. Near′-sight′edness.—Near point the nearest point the eye can focus.
Inputed by Celia
Examples
- That depends,' said Mrs. Bardell, approaching the duster very near to Mr. Pickwick's elbow which was planted on the table. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- I believe that he would have come all the way had it not been that Dr. Ferrier, who lives near me, was going down by that very train. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
- Himself has hitherto sufficed to the toil, and the toil draws near its close: his glorious sun hastens to its setting. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- I saw them stop near the church and speak to the sexton's wife, who had come from the cottage, and had waited, watching us from a distance. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- Their headquarters lay in the southwest corner of this district, near the crossing of two of the so-called Martian canals. Edgar Rice Burroughs. A Princess of Mars.
- It ended in her driving them both to the nearest station, more than three hours since. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- Round two sides of it, the sides nearest to the interior of the church, ran heavy wooden presses, worm-eaten and gaping with age. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- He had hired a lodging for the present in Covent Garden, and he took the nearest way to that quarter, by Snow Hill and Holborn. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- Beneath the nearest lamp-post he glanced at his watch and saw that the time was close on eleven. Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- None of those who were nearest answered; but from the outer ring there arose a shrill cry of ''Cause you're mad! Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- Mrs. Bulstrode did not wish to go nearer to the facts than in the phrase make some amends; knowing that her husband must understand her. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- The haggard head floated up the dark staircase, and softly descended nearer to the floor outside the outer door of the chambers. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- I doubt, he said, if he would even welcome Dejah Thoris' return, for it would mean another nearer the throne than he. Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
- Then, they are the more insolent, and it is the nearer ended. Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities.
- Briarmains being nearer than the Hollow, Mr. Yorke had conveyed his young comrade there. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- The march, now, had to be made with great caution, for he was approaching Lee's army and nearing the country that still remained open to the enemy. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- I heard it nearing me slowly, until it came changed to my ear--came like footsteps moving onward--then stopped. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of your troubles. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
- She was nearing us very fast, and the beating of her peddles grew louder and louder. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- The dreaded hour, the post-hour, was nearing, and I sat waiting it, much as a ghost-seer might wait his spectre. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- As we neared home, Joe vaguely acknowledging the occasion as an impressive and ceremonious one, went on ahead to open the front door. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- At length he neared the wreck. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- As the party neared the fence, they discovered in the distance, along the road, their own wagon coming back, accompanied by some men on horseback. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- Gone, he said, as he neared the professor. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
- As he neared the house, the rich tenor voice of Caliphronas rang vibrating through the still air. Fergus Hume. The Island of Fantasy.
Editor: Terence