Closet

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ˈklÉ’zɪt/
• US IPA: /ˈklÉ‘zɪt/
• Rhymes: -É’zɪt

Origin

From Old French closet (clos + -et).

Noun

1. (chiefly US) A piece of furniture or a cabinet in which clothes or household supplies may be stored.
2. A small private chamber.
• Goldsmitha chair-lumbered closet, just twelve feet by nine
• Bible, Matthew vi. 6When thou prayest, enter into thy closet.
3. A toilet; a water closet.
4. (figuratively) The imagined closet in idioms such as in the closet or skeleton in the closet, a place to keep things hidden.The 'closet' can be a scary place for a gay teenager.

Synonyms

• (A piece of furniture) cupboard, wardrobe, press British, locker, cabinet

Full definition of closet

Adjective

1. Secret.
• 1940, Walton Hall Smith, Liquor, the servant of man, I wonder if there is another in the world that could produce, among perfectly normal people, this strangest quirk in the agenda of liquordom, the closet drinker.

Derived terms

• closeted
• closet oneself
• come out of the closet
• earth closet
• in the closet
• skeleton in the closet
• water closet

Verb

1. (transitive) To shut away for private discussion.The ambassador has been closeted with the prime minister all afternoon. We're all worried what will be announced when they exit.
2. (transitive) To put into a private place for a secret interview or interrogation.
• unknown date BancroftHe was to call a new legislature, to closet its members.
• unknown date FroudeHe had been closeted with De Quadra.
3. (transitive) To shut up in, or as in, a closet for concealment or confinement.
• unknown date CowperBedlam's closeted and handcuffed charge.

Anagrams

• colets, telcos