closed

adjective

ˈklōzd 

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

The exception is the Green Trail east of the RV Park and south of Arlene Laman Drive, which remain closed. —The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 23 Nov. 2023

The battered Ocean Beach pier will remain closed to the public until early next year as the city braces for another stormy winter. —Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Nov. 2023

According to the report, the explosive crash led to a temporary shutdown of all four bridges between Canada and the U.S. near Niagara Falls, three of which later reopened, but the Rainbow Bridge remains closed. —Brian Brant, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2023

The three spinners included in the deal are expandable and open to two sides of packing space — one that zips closed and the other with straps to keep clothes in place. —Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 22 Nov. 2023

Niagara Regional Police said later Wednesday that U.S. law enforcement officials were reopening the other three bridges to traffic, though the Rainbow Bridge remains closed during the ongoing investigation. —Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 22 Nov. 2023

While the West Hollywood spot where Selling Sunset filmed is now closed, Moon Juice still has two other L.A. locations. —Michelle Duncan, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Nov. 2023

Instead of creating a long-running traffic nightmare, the closed freeway’s most lasting impact might be more philosophical. —Reis Thebault, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2023

Mountain residents criticized Caltrans, which handles the plowing of state roads, saying that the agency — as well as the California Highway Patrol — opened and closed roads abruptly and left some people stranded in their cars as mounds of snow were cleared. —Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing closed

• behind closed doors
• a closed book
• closed-captioning
• closed-captioned
• closed book
• closed corporation
• closed-cell
• closed-circuit
• closed-door
• closed fracture
• closed comedo
• closed couplet
• closed session
• meet in closed session
• simple closed curve
• closed stance
• closed shop
• closed-minded
• closed loop
• closed-end
• with one's eyes shut/closed

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• behind closed doors
• a closed book
• closed-captioning
• closed-captioned
• closed book
• closed corporation
• closed-cell
• closed-circuit
• closed-door
• closed fracture
• closed comedo
• closed couplet
• closed session
• meet in closed session
• simple closed curve
• closed stance
• closed shop
• closed-minded
• closed loop
• closed-end
• with one's eyes shut/closed

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Kids Definition

closed

adjective

ˈklōzd 

1

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

adjective

ˈklōzd 

1

: 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

3

: not discharging pathogenic organisms to the outside

a case of closed tuberculosis

compare open entry 1 sense 2

Legal Definition

closed

adjective

1

: confined to a few

closed membership

2

: excluding outsiders or witnesses : conducted in secrecy

closed hearings