shut down

Formsshuts down, shutting down, shut down

1. 1
   close (business)phrasal verbtransitive

   To close a place or end something. A business or factory can also shut down on its own.

   The city will shut down the old pool next year.

   The toy store on our street shut down last winter.

   Similarclose, shutter

   Oppositeopen

   Note
2. 2
   turn offphrasal verbtransitive or intransitive

   To turn off a machine, or for a machine to turn itself off.

   Please shut down the computer before you go home.

   My old laptop shuts down by itself when it gets too hot.

   Similarstop

   Oppositestart (entry)

3. 3
   withdraw emotionallyphrasal verbfigurativelyintransitive

   To close yourself off from other people and your feelings, to protect yourself from stress.

   When people start yelling, my little brother just shuts down.

   When I get too stressed, I shut down and stop answering messages.

   Similarwithdraw

   Note
4. 4
   noun · shut-down

   Alternative form of shutdown. It is written with a hyphen and means the same thing.

   The factory's shut-down left many people without work.

   My computer froze in the middle of the shut-down.

   Note
5. 5
   suppressphrasal verbfigurativelytransitive

   To push away or refuse an idea, or to hide a part of who you are.

   The boss shut down every idea I had in the meeting.

   Don't shut down your creative side just because others don't get it.

   Similarsuppress, reject, quash, stifle

   Note
6. 6
   overtake (racing)phrasal verbslangtransitive

   In car racing, to drive past another car, usually very fast.

   My little car could shut down his big truck on the straight road.

   She shut down the red Mustang at the last turn.

   Similarovertake, pass

   Note

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