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

During much of the last two years, danger from mines and debris from destruction of a massive dam on the Dnipro River kept the shoreline largely closed. —Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2024

However, for about a week at the end of May, the lateral will reopen and the lane on I-71 north will remain closed. —The Enquirer, 19 Apr. 2024

Westfield Bondi Junction, the six-level shopping mall in Sydney, reopened Thursday to allow people inside to pay their respects to the victims, while stores remain closed. —Chris Pandolfo, Fox News, 18 Apr. 2024

As police investigate, the Bondi mall reopened on Thursday to allow people inside to pay their respects to the victims, with stores remaining closed and a white floral tribute laid out on the second floor. —Reuters, NBC News, 18 Apr. 2024

By Simon Shuster / Vilnius April 17, 2024 7:00 AM EDT Outside the closed world of the Kremlin and the Russian prison system, few could have anticipated the death of Alexei Navalny, Russia’s leading dissident, in an Arctic penal colony on February 16. —TIME, 17 Apr. 2024

Though most Peyote ceremonies occur within closed community groups, there are a few retreat experiences available with the Wixarika community. —Michaela Trimble, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Apr. 2024

The investigations come amid concerns about the safety of thousands of U.S. bridges and days after more than two dozen river barges broke loose and struck a closed span in Pittsburgh. —Eric Tucker, arkansasonline.com, 16 Apr. 2024

The navigation channel remains closed, Vernon said. —USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing closed

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

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