close ranks

C c

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [verb klohz; adjective, adverb klohs or for 51, klohz; noun klohz for 59, 60, 63–65, 67, 68, klohs for 61, 62, 66]
- /verb kloʊz ˈræŋks/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [verb klohz; adjective, adverb klohs or for 51, klohz; noun klohz for 59, 60, 63–65, 67, 68, klohs for 61, 62, 66]
- /verb kloʊz ˈræŋks/

Definitions of close ranks words

noun close ranks to maintain discipline or solidarity, esp in anticipation of attack 3
noun close ranks if you say that the members of a group close ranks, you mean that they are supporting each other only because their group is being criticized 3
verb with object close ranks to put (something) in a position to obstruct an entrance, opening, etc.; shut. 1
verb with object close ranks to stop or obstruct (a gap, entrance, aperture, etc.): to close a hole in a wall with plaster. 1
verb with object close ranks to block or hinder passage across or access to: to close a border to tourists; to close the woods to picnickers. 1
verb with object close ranks to stop or obstruct the entrances, apertures, or gaps in: He closed the crate and tied it up. 1

See all 74 definitions of close ranks

Information block about the term

Origin of close ranks

First appearance:

before 1050

One of the 6% oldest English words

before 1050; (noun, adj.) Middle English clos < Anglo-French, Old French < Latin clausus, past participle of claudere to close (cf. clause); (v.) Middle English closen, verbal derivative of the adj. (compare Old English clȳsan, beclȳsan to shut in, enclose, verbal derivative of clūse bar, enclosure < Medieval Latin clūsa, for Latin clausa, feminine of clausus); noun and adj. senses with voiced pronunciation of s are presumably modern deverbal derivatives

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Close ranks

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Close ranks

close ranks popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 99% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

close ranks usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for close ranks

verb close ranks

huddle — to gather or crowd together in a close mass.

All 2 Synonyms of close ranks