closet

American  

[kloz-it] / ˈklɒz ɪt /

noun

1. a small room, enclosed recess, or cabinet for storing clothing, food, utensils, etc.

2. a small private room, especially one used for prayer, meditation, etc.

3. a state or condition of secrecy or carefully guarded privacy.

   Some conservatives remain in the closet except on election day. Gay liberation has encouraged many gay people to come out of the closet.

4. water closet.

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adjective

1. private; secluded.

2. suited for use or enjoyment in privacy.

   closet reflections; closet prayer.

3. engaged in private study or speculation; speculative; unpractical.

   a closet thinker with no practical experience.

4. being or functioning as such in private; secret.

   a closet anarchist.

verb (used with object)

1. to shut up in a private room for a conference, interview, etc. (usually used in the passive voice).

   The secretary of state was closeted with the senator for three hours in a tense session.

closet British  

/ ˈklɒzɪt /

noun

1. a small cupboard or recess

2. a small private room

3. short for water closet

4. (modifier) private or secret

5. (modifier) suited or appropriate for use in private

   closet meditations

6. (modifier) based on or devoted to theory; speculative

   a closet strategist

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verb

1. (tr) to shut up or confine in a small private room, esp for conference or meditation

closet Idioms  

1. see come out of the closet; skeleton in the closet.

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Etymology

Origin of closet

1300–50; Middle English < Anglo-French, Middle French, equivalent to clos close (noun) + -et -et

Example Sentences

The company keeps a closet full of Puma products on hand to give VIP guests.

From Los Angeles Times

One of the male mediums yelled out, “Don’t, I don’t want to, leave me alone,” before being dragged into a closet and locked in by unseen forces.

From Literature

And references to the original run notwithstanding — appletinis, “Star Wars,” a certain closet — it’s intelligible and funny on its own terms , and as full of love as ever.

From Los Angeles Times

The third pillar is home services and installable products, including renovation, flooring, cabinetry, and closet and storage systems.

From The Wall Street Journal

“I can go shopping in my closet and grab something and pop it in, instead of spending an hour scrolling through Netflix to find something and then just turning on the same TV show.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cabinet
• container
• locker
• room
• vault
• wardrobe