# closer

Pronunciation: US say "KLOH-sur" /ˈkloʊ.sɚ/; UK say "KLOH-suh" /ˈkləʊ.sə/

## Adjective

1. Comparative form of close. — comparative form of close: more close
   - Simple: Comparative form of close. Use this to compare how near or tight two things are.
   - _The deadline crept closer with each passing day._
   - _Their houses sat closer together than I had remembered._
2. Within a shorter distance; nearer than another point of reference.
   - Simple: Nearer in space or time than another point.
   - _We booked a hotel closer to the conference center._
   - _The closer seats cost more because of the view._

## Noun

Pronunciation: US say "KLOH-zur" /ˈkloʊ.zɚ/; UK say "KLOH-zuh" /ˈkləʊ.zə/

3. A person or thing that closes something, such as a door or an opening.
   - Simple: A person or thing that shuts something.
   - _A hydraulic closer keeps the heavy door from slamming._
   - _As the last closer of the evening, she checked every window before leaving._
4. A person or thing that concludes or finishes something.
   - Simple: A person or thing that brings something to an end.
   - _The final speaker served as the closer, summing up the day's themes._
   - _Fireworks made a spectacular closer to the festival._
5. In baseball, a relief pitcher who specializes in getting the final three outs of a game.
   - Simple: A baseball pitcher who comes in at the end to get the last outs and protect a lead.
   - _The team's closer entered in the ninth with the bases empty._
   - _A dominant closer can turn a slim lead into a reliable win._
6. In sales, the moment at the end of a pitch when the customer is asked to make the purchase.
   - Simple: The final part of a sales talk where the customer is asked to buy.
   - _The rep fumbled the closer and lost the sale._
   - _A well-rehearsed closer can turn hesitation into a signature._
7. In horse racing, a horse that runs its strongest toward the end of a race.
   - Simple: A racehorse that runs its best near the end of a race.
   - _Bettors love a closer that comes from behind in the last furlong._
   - _The closer trailed early but powered ahead near the wire._
8. The final, smaller stone in a horizontal course of masonry, or a cut piece of brick used to finish off the course.
   - Simple: A small stone or piece of brick that fills the end of a row in a wall.
   - _The bricklayer split a brick to make a closer for the last gap in the course._
   - _A small closer completed the top row of the stone wall._

## Origin

From Middle English closere, formed from the verb close plus the suffix -er.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/closer (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).