資料來源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Vowel \Vow"el\, n. [F. voyelle, or an OF. form without y, L.
   vocalis (sc. littera), from vocalis sounding, from vox,
   vocis, a voice, sound. See {Vocal}.] (Phon.)
   A vocal, or sometimes a whispered, sound modified by
   resonance in the oral passage, the peculiar resonance in each
   case giving to each several vowel its distinctive character
   or quality as a sound of speech; -- distinguished from a
   {consonant} in that the latter, whether made with or without
   vocality, derives its character in every case from some kind
   of obstructive action by the mouth organs. Also, a letter or
   character which represents such a sound. See Guide to
   Pronunciation, [sect][sect] 5, 146-149.

   Note: In the English language, the written vowels are a, e,
         i, o, u, and sometimes w and y. The spoken vowels are
         much more numerous.

   {Close vowel}. See under {Close}, a.

   {Vowel point}. See under {Point}, n.

Close \Close\, a. [Compar. {Closer}; superl. {Closest}.] [Of. &
   F. clos, p. p. of clore. See {Close}, v. t.]
   1. Shut fast; closed; tight; as, a close box.

            From a close bower this dainty music flowed.
                                                  --Dryden.

   2. Narrow; confined; as, a close alley; close quarters. ``A
      close prison.'' --Dickens.

   3. Oppressive; without motion or ventilation; causing a
      feeling of lassitude; -- said of the air, weather, etc.

            If the rooms be low-roofed, or full of windows and
            doors, the one maketh the air close, . . . and the
            other maketh it exceeding unequal.    --Bacon.

   4. Strictly confined; carefully quarded; as, a close
      prisoner.

   5. Out of the way observation; secluded; secret; hidden. ``He
      yet kept himself close because of Saul.'' --1 Chron. xii.
      1

            ``Her close intent.''                 --Spenser.

   6. Disposed to keep secrets; secretive; reticent. ``For
      servecy, no lady closer.'' --Shak.

   7. Having the parts near each other; dense; solid; compact;
      as applied to bodies; viscous; tenacious; not volatile, as
      applied to liquids.

            The golden globe being put into a press, . . . the
            water made itself way through the pores of that very
            close metal.                          --Locke.

   8. Concise; to the point; as, close reasoning. ``Where the
      original is close no version can reach it in the same
      compass.'' --Dryden.

   9. Adjoining; near; either in space; time, or thought; --
      often followed by to.

            Plant the spring crocuses close to a wall.
                                                  --Mortimer.

            The thought of the Man of sorrows seemed a very
            close thing -- not a faint hearsay.   --G. Eliot.

   10. Short; as, to cut grass or hair close.

   11. Intimate; familiar; confidential.

             League with you I seek And mutual amity, so strait,
             so close, That I with you must dwell, or you with
             me.                                  --Milton.

   12. Nearly equal; almost evenly balanced; as, a close vote.
       ``A close contest.'' --Prescott.

   13. Difficult to obtain; as, money is close. --Bartlett.

   14. Parsimonious; stingy. ``A crusty old fellow, as close as
       a vise.'' --Hawthorne.

   15. Adhering strictly to a standard or original; exact;
       strict; as, a close translation. --Locke.

   16. Accurate; careful; precise; also, attentive; undeviating;
       strict; not wandering; as, a close observer.

   17. (Phon.) Uttered with a relatively contracted opening of
       the mouth, as certain sounds of e and o in French,
       Italian, and German; -- opposed to open.

   {Close borough}. See under {Borough}.

   {Close breeding}. See under {Breeding}.

   {Close communion}, communion in the Lord's supper, restricted
      to those who have received baptism by immersion.

   {Close corporation}, a body or corporation which fills its
      own vacancies.

   {Close fertilization}. (Bot.) See {Fertilization}.

   {Close harmony} (Mus.), compact harmony, in which the tones
      composing each chord are not widely distributed over
      several octaves.

   {Close time}, a fixed period during which killing game or
      catching certain fish is prohibited by law.

   {Close vowel} (Pron.), a vowel which is pronounced with a
      diminished aperture of the lips, or with contraction of
      the cavity of the mouth.

   {Close to the wind} (Naut.), directed as nearly to the point
      from which the wind blows as it is possible to sail;
      closehauled; -- said of a vessel.