cerrar
transitive verb
1 (hablando de un objeto abierto) [+puerta, ventana, boca] to close; shut; [+cremallera] to do up; [+camisa] to button; do up; [+cortina] to draw; [+paraguas, válvula] to close; [+carta] to seal; [+costura, herida] to sew up
no puedo cerrar esta maleta I can't close o shut this suitcase; cierra los ojos close o shut your eyes; cerrar algo de golpe to slam sth shut; cerró el libro de golpe she banged o slammed the book shut; los colegios cerraron sus puertas a causa de la huelga the schools closed because of the strike
cerré la puerta con llave I locked the door
cierra el pico shut your trap (muy_familiar)
cerrar el puño to clench one's fist
3 (bloquear) [+agujero, brecha, tubo] to block (up); [+frontera, puerto] to close
una roca cerraba la entrada a la cueva a rock was obstructing the entrance to the cave; han cerrado la frontera they have closed the border
cerrar el paso a algn to block sb's way
trató de entrar, pero le cerraron el paso he tried to get in, but they blocked o barred his way
6 (poner fin a) [+debate, narración, programa] to close; end
cerrar el sistema (Informática) to shut down the system
[+desfile] to bring up the rear of los manifestantes que cerraban la marcha the demonstrators bringing up the rear o at the rear
cierra la cabalgata la carroza de Santa Claus the last float in the procession is the one with Santa Claus
intransitive verb
1 (hablando de un objeto abierto) [+puerta, ventana] to close; shut; [+bragueta] to do up; [+paraguas, válvula] to close; [+herida] to close up
la puerta cierra mal the door won't close o shut properly; un estuche que cierra con llave a jewellery box with a lock
2 [+persona]
cierra, que se va a escapar el gato close o shut the door or the cat will get out
te dejo las llaves para que cierres I am leaving you the keys so you can lock up
pronominal verb
cerrarse1 [+puerta, ventana] to close; shut; [+bragueta] to do up; [+paraguas, válvula] to close; [+herida] to close up
la puerta se cerró detrás de mí the door closed o shut behind me; la ventana se cerró de golpe the window slammed shut; este sofá-cama se cierra con gran facilidad this sofa-bed is very easy to fold away; se me cierran los ojos I can't keep my eyes open
2 [+persona]
ciérrate bien el abrigo do your coat up properly; cerrarse la cremallera to do one's zip up
3 (Com) to close; shut
la tienda se cierra a las nueve the shop closes o shuts at nine; el museo se cerró por obras the museum closed for refurbishment
4 (obcecarse)
cerrarse a algo
no hay que cerrarse a nada sin probarlo primero you should never dismiss anything without trying it first; no puedes cerrarte a la evidencia you can't ignore the evidence
cerrarse en algo
se cerraron en una actitud beligerante they persisted with a belligerent attitude
cerrarse en hacer algo to persist in doing sth
cerrarse en banda (mostrarse inflexible) to refuse to budge; (unirse) to close ranks