close-up

Or close·up

[klohs-uhp]

noun

1. a photograph taken at close range or with a long focal-length lens, on a relatively large scale.

2. Also called close shot. Movies, Television.,  a camera shot taken at a very short distance from the subject, to permit a close and detailed view of an object or action.

3. an intimate view or presentation of anything.

adjective

1. of or resembling a close-up.

2. intimate or detailed; close-in.

close-up

/ ˈkləʊsˌʌp /

noun

1. a photograph or film or television shot taken at close range

2. a detailed or intimate view or examination

   a close-up of modern society

verb

1. to shut entirely

2. (intr) to draw together

   the ranks closed up

3. (intr) (of wounds) to heal completely

Word History and Origins

Origin of close up¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1910–15; noun use of adverbial phrase close up

Idioms and Phrases

Also, close up shop. Stop doing business, temporarily or permanently; also, stop working. For example, The bank is closing up all its overseas branches, or That's enough work for one day—I'm closing up shop and going home. [Late 1500s]

Example Sentences

In the 1940s, as Peter Drucker got a close-up look at General Motors, he was struck by how unmotivated many of the company’s employees were, especially considering that most were making decent money.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Bronstein undercuts this assertion with a tight close-up on Byrne that reveals the depths of her misery — also her pores.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A recent one consisted of a close-up of one of those vents above your airplane seat that regulates air circulation while the plane’s captain welcomes the viewer to “ICE Air” over the intercom.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The series of photos included the couple, in their wedding attire, lounging on a white sofa and a close-up shot of their left hands with the wedding rings that now adorn them.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Portraits of older family members dominate, including several deathbed scenes: Matzkin and her mother, and a close-up of Richard Matzkin’s Aunt Kitty with eyes closed and mouth open.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• attitude 
• concept 
• consideration 
• feeling 
• impression 
• judgment 
• mind 
• notion 
• opinion 
• point of view 
• sentiment 
• thought