The word close has several meanings:

1. To shut something or bring its parts together. When you close a book, you bring its covers together. When a store closes for the night, it locks its doors and stops serving customers. Your eyelids close when you sleep. A wound closes as it heals.
2. Near in space, time, or relationship. If you live close to school, you can walk there quickly. A close friend is someone you trust deeply and spend lots of time with. When a game ends with a close score like 7 to 6, both teams nearly won.
3. To end or conclude something. A speaker might close her presentation with a memorable story. A business deal closes when everyone finally agrees and signs the papers. The closing minutes of a basketball game often decide the winner.
4. Pronounced differently (rhymes with “dose”), close can mean near: “Stand close to me so you can hear.” This sounds different from closing a door, where the word rhymes with “nose.”