Found 1 items, similar to Close vowel.
English → English (gcide) Definition: Close vowel Vowel \Vow"el\, n. [F. voyelle, or an OF. form without y, L. vocalis (sc. littera), from vocalis sounding, from vox, vocis, a voice, sound. See Vocal.] (Phon.) A vocal, or sometimes a whispered, sound modified by resonance in the oral passage, the peculiar resonance in each case giving to each several vowel its distinctive character or quality as a sound of speech; -- distinguished from a consonant in that the latter, whether made with or without vocality, derives its character in every case from some kind of obstructive action by the mouth organs. Also, a letter or character which represents such a sound. See Guide to Pronunciation, [sect][sect] 5, 146-149. [1913 Webster] Note: In the English language, the written vowels are a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes w and y. The spoken vowels are much more numerous. [1913 Webster] Close vowel. See under Close, a. Vowel point. See under Point, n. [1913 Webster] Close \Close\ (kl[=o]s), a. [Compar. Closer (kl[=o]"s[~e]r); superl. Closest.] [Of. & F. clos, p. p. of clore. See Close, v. t.] 1. Shut fast; closed; tight; as, a close box. [1913 Webster] From a close bower this dainty music flowed. --Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2. Narrow; confined; as, a close alley; close quarters. “A close prison.” --Dickens. [1913 Webster] 3. Oppressive; without motion or ventilation; causing a feeling of lassitude; -- said of the air, weather, etc. [1913 Webster] If the rooms be low-roofed, or full of windows and doors, the one maketh the air close, . . . and the other maketh it exceeding unequal. --Bacon. [1913 Webster] 4. Strictly confined; carefully quarded; as, a close prisoner. [1913 Webster] 5. Out of the way observation; secluded; secret; hidden. “He yet kept himself close because of Saul.” --1 Chron. xii. 1 [1913 Webster] “Her close intent.” --Spenser. [1913 Webster] 6. Disposed to keep secrets; secretive; reticent. “For secrecy, no lady closer.” --Shak. [1913 Webster] 7. Having the parts near each other; dense; solid; compact; as applied to bodies; viscous; tenacious; not volatile, as applied to liquids. [1913 Webster] The golden globe being put into a press, . . . the water made itself way through the pores of that very close metal. --Locke. [1913 Webster] 8. Concise; to the point; as, close reasoning. “Where the original is close no version can reach it in the same compass.” --Dryden. [1913 Webster] 9. Adjoining; near; either in space; time, or thought; -- often followed by to. [1913 Webster] Plant the spring crocuses close to a wall. --Mortimer. [1913 Webster] The thought of the Man of sorrows seemed a very close thing -- not a faint hearsay. --G. Eliot. [1913 Webster] 10. Short; as, to cut grass or hair close. [1913 Webster] 11. Intimate; familiar; confidential. [1913 Webster] League with you I seek And mutual amity, so strait, so close, That I with you must dwell, or you with me. --Milton. [1913 Webster] 12. Nearly equal; almost evenly balanced; as, a close vote. “A close contest.” --Prescott. [1913 Webster] 13. Difficult to obtain; as, money is close. --Bartlett. [1913 Webster] 14. Parsimonious; stingy. “A crusty old fellow, as close as a vise.” --Hawthorne. [1913 Webster] 15. Adhering strictly to a standard or original; exact; strict; as, a close translation. --Locke. [1913 Webster] 16. Accurate; careful; precise; also, attentive; undeviating; strict; not wandering; as, a close observer. [1913 Webster] 17. (Phon.) Uttered with a relatively contracted opening of the mouth, as certain sounds of e and o in French, Italian, and German; -- opposed to open. [1913 Webster] Close borough. See under Borough. Close breeding. See under Breeding. Close communion, communion in the Lord's supper, restricted to those who have received baptism by immersion. Close corporation, a body or corporation which fills its own vacancies. Close fertilization. (Bot.) See Fertilization. Close harmony (Mus.), compact harmony, in which the tones composing each chord are not widely distributed over several octaves. Close time, a fixed period during which killing game or catching certain fish is prohibited by law. Close vowel (Pron.), a vowel which is pronounced with a diminished aperture of the lips, or with contraction of the cavity of the mouth. Close to the wind (Naut.), directed as nearly to the point from which the wind blows as it is possible to sail; closehauled; -- said of a vessel. [1913 Webster]