Overclose
adj, verb ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 To close prematurely or excessively.
- 2 To form a closed universe before it has attained its present age.
- 1 In too great a proximity.
"She knew he was being only sensible, pity rather, and she said she was sorry, and they didn't stand overclose after that, the weight of the rain was seeping through the branches and now a great low gust of wind swept up the park, driving the soft ground spray in their faces."
- 2 Having too great an emotional attachment.
"As the child grows older mother and child have to separate, a complex process in which both child and parent need to find the right balance between love and intimacy, without becoming overclose, sexual or incestuous."
- 3 Lacking adequate ventilation; stuffy.
"Cows are also more liable to congestion of the lungs and to tuberculosis than are other cattle. The former may be induced by being kept in overclose, hot, and badly ventilated houses, rendering them liable to chills when turned out; and there is no doubt tuberculosis is largely spread by the presence of infected animals in such houses."
Example
More examples"She knew he was being only sensible, pity rather, and she said she was sorry, and they didn't stand overclose after that, the weight of the rain was seeping through the branches and now a great low gust of wind swept up the park, driving the soft ground spray in their faces."
Etymology
From Middle English overclose, equivalent to over- + close (adjective).
From Middle English overclosen, equivalent to over- + close (verb).
More for "overclose"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.