foreclose
[ fawr-klohz, fohr- ]
/ fɔrˈkloʊz, foʊr- /
verb (used with object), fore·closed, fore·clos·ing.
Law.
- to deprive (a mortgagor or pledgor) of the right to redeem his or her property, especially on failure to make payment on a mortgage when due, ownership of property then passing to the mortgagee.
- to take away the right to redeem (a mortgage or pledge).
to shut out; exclude; bar.
to hinder or prevent, as from doing something.
to establish an exclusive claim to.
to close, settle, or answer beforehand.
verb (used without object), fore·closed, fore·clos·ing.
to foreclose a mortgage or pledge.
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
forecastle, forecastle deck, forecastle head, forechoir, forecited, foreclose, foreclosure, foreconscious, forecourse, forecourt, foredate
Origin of foreclose
1250–1300; Middle English foreclosen < Old French forclos, past participle of forclore to exclude, equivalent to for- out + clore to shut (< Latin claudere)
Related forms
fore·clos·a·ble, adjectivenon·fore·clos·ing, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for foreclose
British Dictionary definitions for foreclose
foreclose
/ (fɔːˈkləʊz) /
verb
law to deprive (a mortgagor, etc) of the right to redeem (a mortgage or pledge)
(tr) to shut out; bar
(tr) to prevent or hinder
(tr) to answer or settle (an obligation, promise, etc) in advance
(tr) to make an exclusive claim to
Derived Forms
foreclosable, adjectiveforeclosure (fɔːˈkləʊʒə), nounWord Origin for foreclose
C15: from Old French forclore, from for- out + clore to close, from Latin claudere
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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