Near — Defs

01 adv. At a little distance, in place, time, manner, or degree; not remote; nigh.

1.
At a little distance, in place, time, manner, or degree; not remote; nigh.
“My wife! my traitress! let her not come near me.” — Milton.
2.
Nearly; almost; well-nigh.
“Near about the yearly value of the land.” — Locke.
3.
Closely; intimately.

Phrases & compounds

Far and near — at a distance and close by; throughout a whole region.

To come near to — to want but little of; to approximate to.

Near the wind — close to the wind; closehauled.

02 a. Not far distant in time, place, or degree; not remote; close at hand; adjacent; neighboring; nigh.

1.
Not far distant in time, place, or degree; not remote; close at hand; adjacent; neighboring; nigh.
“He served great Hector, and was ever near, Not with his trumpet only, but his spear.” — Dryden.
2.
Closely connected or related.
“She is thy father's near kinswoman.” — Lev. xviii. 12.
3.
Close to one's interests, affection, etc.; touching, or affecting intimately; intimate; dear; as, a near friend.
4.
Close to anything followed or imitated; not free, loose, or rambling; as, a version near to the original.
5.
So as barely to avoid or pass injury or loss; close; narrow{3}; as, a near escape; a near miss.
6.
Next to the driver, when he is on foot; in the Unted States, on the left of an animal or a team; as, the near ox; the near leg. See Off side, under Off, a. See: Off
7.
Immediate; direct; close; short.
8.
Close-fisted; parsimonious.[Obs. or Low, Eng.]

03 prep. Adjacent to; close by; not far from; nigh; as, the ship sailed near the land. See the Note under near, a.

1.
Adjacent to; close by; not far from; nigh; as, the ship sailed near the land. See the Note under near, a. See: near

04 v. t. To approach; to come nearer; as, the ship neared the land.

imp. & p. p. Neared; p. pr. & vb. n Nearing

05 v. i. To draw near; to approach.

1.
To draw near; to approach.
“A speck, a mist, a shape, I wist! And still it neared, and neared.” — Coleridge.