1
a
: not open
b
: enclosed
c
: composed entirely of closed tubes or vessels
a closed circulatory system
2
a
: having the skin intact with no underlying tissue exposed
closed wounds
see also closed fracture
b
of a head injury
: having the skull intact : not marked by fracture or penetration of the skull
3
a
: forming a self-contained unit allowing no additions
closed association
b(1)
: traced by a moving point that returns to an arbitrary starting point
closed curve
also
: so formed that every plane section is a closed curve
closed surface
(2)
: characterized by mathematical elements that when subjected to an operation produce only elements of the same set
the set of whole numbers is closed under addition and multiplication
(3)
: containing all the limit points of every possible subset
a closed interval contains its endpoints
c
: characterized by continuous return and reuse of the working substance
a closed cooling system
d
of a racecourse
: having the same starting and finishing point
4
a
: confined to a few
closed membership
b
: excluding participation of outsiders or witnesses : conducted in strict secrecy
c
: rigidly excluding outside influence
a closed mind
5
: ending in a consonant
closed syllable
Examples of closed in a Sentence
He looked at me through half-closed eyes.
The store is closed for lunch between 1 and 2 p.m.
The beach is closed this time of night.
These restrooms are closed for cleaning.
The chairman declared the discussion closed and allowed no further speeches.
Recent Examples on the Web
Despite his appreciation for and dedication to the character, Feige, 50, said in December 2023 that Downey's chapter as Iron Man is remaining closed.
—
Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
The local high school remains closed because of lingering damage, leaving students to ride buses to nearby towns.
—Michael Goldberg, Quartz, 8 Apr. 2024
Jackson County’s assessment, collections and recorder of deeds offices will remain closed Monday as officials work to restore computer systems affected by a ransomware attack discovered last week by the county’s information technology department.
—Glenn E. Rice, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2024
The space may be more closed off than a true loft, with features like bedroom walls.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Apr. 2024
In August 2020, during the heart of the covid-19 pandemic when many schools were closed, social media and news outlets were awash with a picture of two grade school students sitting outside of a Taco Bell, attempting to do their schoolwork.
—Gigi Sohn, The Verge, 5 Apr. 2024
Gunmen have burned police stations, opened fire on the main international airport that remains closed and stormed Haiti's two biggest prisons, releasing more than 4,000 inmates.
—Bradford Betz, Fox News, 4 Apr. 2024
All of those things go into building trust in a Japanese culture that some would call a closed society.
—Demetrius Patterson, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024
Even though marine container ship operations are closed, land operations at the Port of Baltimore have not stopped.
—Lori Ann Larocco, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024
Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
The local high school remains closed because of lingering damage, leaving students to ride buses to nearby towns.
—Michael Goldberg, Quartz, 8 Apr. 2024
Jackson County’s assessment, collections and recorder of deeds offices will remain closed Monday as officials work to restore computer systems affected by a ransomware attack discovered last week by the county’s information technology department.
—Glenn E. Rice, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2024
The space may be more closed off than a true loft, with features like bedroom walls.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Apr. 2024
In August 2020, during the heart of the covid-19 pandemic when many schools were closed, social media and news outlets were awash with a picture of two grade school students sitting outside of a Taco Bell, attempting to do their schoolwork.
—Gigi Sohn, The Verge, 5 Apr. 2024
Gunmen have burned police stations, opened fire on the main international airport that remains closed and stormed Haiti's two biggest prisons, releasing more than 4,000 inmates.
—Bradford Betz, Fox News, 4 Apr. 2024
All of those things go into building trust in a Japanese culture that some would call a closed society.
—Demetrius Patterson, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024
Even though marine container ship operations are closed, land operations at the Port of Baltimore have not stopped.
—Lori Ann Larocco, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'closed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near closed
Cite this Entry
“Closed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/closed. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
closed
adjective1
a
: not open : enclosed
b
: made up entirely of closed tubes or vessels
a closed circulatory system
2
: formed by a line that returns to its starting point
a closed curve
3
: having elements that when a mathematical operation (as addition) is performed on them produce only other elements of the same set
the set of whole numbers is closed under addition
4
: not admitting or not easily admitting new members
a closed meeting
a closed society
Medical Definition
closed
adjective1
: being a complete self-contained system with nothing transferred in or out
a closed thermodynamic system
2
a
: having the skin intact with no underlying tissue exposed
closed wounds
see closed fracture
b
of a head injury
: having the skull intact : not marked by fracture or penetration of the skull
Closed head injuries result from the force of a blast or a blow in which the skull remains intact but the brain, surrounded by fluid like an egg yolk, gets wrenched or slammed against the skull wall.—Neil Shea
Neil Shea3
: not discharging pathogenic organisms to the outside
a case of closed tuberculosis
compare open entry 1 sense 2
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