shut ◆◇◇ /ʃʌ t/ (shuts , shutting ) The form shut is used in the present tense and is the past tense and past participle. 1 VERB If you shut something such as a door or if it shuts , it moves so that it fills a hole or a space. □ [V n] Just make sure you shut the gate after you. □ [V ] The screen door shut gently. ● ADJ [v-link ADJ ] Shut is also an adjective. □ They have warned residents to stay inside and keep their doors and windows shut.
2 VERB If you shut your eyes, you lower your eyelids so that you cannot see anything. □ [V n] Lucy shut her eyes so she wouldn't see it happen. ● ADJ [v-link ADJ ] Shut is also an adjective. □ His eyes were shut and he seemed to have fallen asleep.
3 VERB If your mouth shuts or if you shut your mouth, you place your lips firmly together. □ [V ] Daniel's mouth opened, and then shut again. □ [V n] He opened and shut his mouth, unspeaking. ● ADJ [v-link ADJ ] Shut is also an adjective. □ She was silent for a moment, lips tight shut, eyes distant.
4 VERB When a store, bar, or other public building shuts or when someone shuts it, it is closed and you cannot use it until it is open again. □ [V n] There is a tendency to shut museums or shops at a moment's notice. □ [V ] What time do the pubs shut? ● ADJ [v-link ADJ ] Shut is also an adjective. □ Make sure you have food to tide you over when the local shop may be shut.
5 PHRASE If you say that someone shuts their eyes to something, you mean that they deliberately ignore something which they should deal with. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ We shut our eyes to the plainest facts, refusing to admit the truth.
6 PHRASE If someone tells you to keep your mouth shut about something, they are telling you not to let anyone else know about it.
7 PHRASE If you keep your mouth shut , you do not express your opinions about something, even though you would like to. □ If she had kept her mouth shut she would still have her job now.
▸ shut down
1 PHRASAL VERB If a factory or business shuts down or if someone shuts it down , work there stops or it no longer trades as a business. □ [V P ] Smaller contractors had been forced to shut down. □ [V P n] It is required by law to shut down banks which it regards as chronically short of capital. □ [V n P ] Mr Buzetta sold the newspaper's assets to its competitor and shut it down.
2 → see also shutdown
▸ shut in
1 PHRASAL VERB If you shut someone or something in a room, you close the door so that they cannot leave it. □ [V n P n] The door enables us to shut the birds in the shelter in bad weather.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you shut yourself in a room, you stay in there and make sure nobody else can get in. □ [V pron-refl P n] After one particular bad result, he shut himself in the shower room for an hour.
3 → see also shut-in
▸ shut off
1 PHRASAL VERB If you shut off something such as an engine or an electrical item, you turn it off to stop it working. □ [V P n] They pulled over and shut off the engine. □ [V n P ] Will somebody please shut that alarm off.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you shut yourself off , you avoid seeing other people, usually because you are feeling depressed. □ [V pron-refl P ] Billy tends to keep things to himself more and shut himself off.
3 PHRASAL VERB If an official organization shuts off the supply of something, they no longer send it to the people they supplied in the past. □ [V P n] The State Water Project has shut off all supplies to farmers. [Also V n P ]
▸ shut out
1 PHRASAL VERB If you shut something or someone out , you prevent them from getting into a place, for example by closing the doors. □ [V n P + of ] 'I shut him out of the bedroom,' says Maureen. □ [V P n] I was set to shut out anyone else who came knocking. [Also V n P ]
2 PHRASAL VERB If you shut out a thought or a feeling, you prevent yourself from thinking or feeling it. □ [V P n] I shut out the memory which was too painful to dwell on. □ [V n P ] The figures represent such overwhelming human misery that the mind wants to shut it out.
3 PHRASAL VERB If you shut someone out of something, you prevent them from having anything to do with it. □ [V n P + of ] She is very reclusive, to the point of shutting me out of her life. □ [V n P ] She had effectively shut him out by refusing to listen.
▸ shut up PHRASAL VERB If someone shuts up or if someone shuts them up , they stop talking. You can say 'shut up' as an impolite way to tell a person to stop talking. □ [V P ] Just shut up, will you? □ [V n P ] A sharp put-down was the only way to shut her up. SYNONYMS shut VERB 1
close: If you are cold, close the window.
secure: The shed was secured by a hasp and staple fastener.
fasten: …the dress, which fastens with a long back zip.
lock: Are you sure you locked the front door?
shut|down /ʃʌ tdaʊn/ (shutdowns ) N‑COUNT A shutdown is the closing of a factory, shop, or other business, either for a short time or for ever. □ The shutdown is the latest in a series of painful budget measures.
shu t-eye also shuteye N‑UNCOUNT Shut-eye is sleep. [INFORMAL ] □ Go home and get some shut-eye.