closet
/'klɔzit/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A small private room for study or prayer: A small, enclosed room intended for private activities such as reading, studying, or religious devotion.
- A tall piece of furniture for storing clothes: A piece of furniture, typically with a door, containing rails, shelves, or hooks for hanging and storing clothing and other items.
- (British) A toilet: A room containing a toilet; a water closet (WC).
- A small storage room or recess: A small room, cabinet, or built-in space used for storing various items.
Verb:
- To confine to a small space for intensive work: To seclude or shut oneself away, typically in a private room, for the purpose of focused work or a private conversation.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- She retreated to her closet to meditate in peace.
- All his suits are neatly arranged in the bedroom closet.
- Excuse me, where is the closet?
- The cleaning supplies are kept in the closet under the stairs.
Verb:
- The two diplomats closeted themselves for hours to negotiate the treaty.
Advanced Usage
- "Skeleton in the closet": A shameful or embarrassing secret from one's past.
- Every family has a few skeletons in the closet.
- "Come out of the closet": To publicly acknowledge one's homosexuality or, more broadly, to reveal a previously hidden identity or preference.
- He finally came out of the closet to his friends and family.
- "Closet case" (informal, often derogatory): A person who hides their true sexual orientation.
- "Closet drinker/eater/fan": A person who hides a particular habit or interest.
- She's a closet fan of reality TV shows.
Variants and Related Words
- Water closet (WC): A formal or old-fashioned term for a toilet or bathroom.
- Closeted (adjective): Describing someone who keeps a secret, especially regarding their sexual orientation.
- He led a closeted life for many years.
- Closetful (noun): An amount that fills a closet.
- She has a closetful of beautiful dresses.
Synonyms
- Noun (for furniture): Wardrobe, armoire, cupboard, locker.
- Noun (for small room): Cubbyhole, cubicle, cabinet, recess.
- Verb: Confine, seclude, shut away, sequester.
Related Phrasal Verbs
(Note: "Closet" is not commonly used to form phrasal verbs. Its verbal use is typically in the form "to closet oneself" or "to be closeted with.")
Related Idioms
- "Closet drama": A play written to be read rather than performed on stage.
- "Closet strategist" (derogatory): Someone who theorizes or plans without practical experience.
- He was criticized for being a mere closet strategist.
Noun
- a small private room for study or prayer
- a tall piece of furniture that provides storage space for clothes; has a door and rails or hooks for hanging clothes
- a toilet in Britain
- a small room (or recess) or cabinet used for storage space
Verb
- confine to a small space, as for intensive work