closer

1. comparativecomparative form of close: more close

   In the spring of 1938 the Japanese imperialists invaded Yü-tz'u and T'ai-ku in Shansi. Everyone was in panic as the flames of war came closer and closer to Hsiang-yüan hsien.

   1976, Sidney L. Greenblatt, editor, The People of Taihang, White Plains, NY: International Arts and Sciences Press, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 168

   1 more example

   [The researchers] noticed many of their pieces of [plastic marine] debris sported surface pits around two microns across. Such pits are about the size of a bacterial cell. Closer examination showed that some of these pits did, indeed, contain bacteria, […].

   2013 July 20, “Welcome to the plastisphere”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8845

1. not comparableWithin a shorter distance.

   Come closer, my dear.

plural closers

1. Someone or something that closes.

   In our organization, the VP of Sales usually acts as the closer.

2. Someone or something that concludes.

   The DJ chose a fantastic track as his closer at the end of the night.

3. salesSynonym of close (“the point at the end of a sales pitch when the consumer is asked to buy”).

   Synonyms: close

4. The last stone in a horizontal course, if smaller than the others; a piece of brick finishing a course.

   The longitudinal bond of the walls is only 24 inches, or one fourth of the length of a brick of 9 inches, and is obtained by introducing closers 24 inches broad

   1852, Notes on Building and Road-making

5. ball gamesA relief pitcher who specializes in getting the last three outs of the game.

   They brought their closer in for the ninth.

6. hobbiesA horse that performs best toward the end of a race.