near

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. adv. To, at, or within a short distance or interval in space or time.
2. adv. Just about; almost; nearly: was near exhausted from the labor; near dead after the assault.
3. adv. With or in a close relationship.
4. adj. Close in time, space, position, or degree: near equals.
5. adj. Closely related by kinship or association; intimate: a near relative; a near and dear friend. See Synonyms at close.
6. adj. Nearly occurring but not actually happening: a near victory; a near disaster.
7. adj. Just barely avoided: a near hit by the incendiary bomb.
8. adj. Closely corresponding to or resembling an original: a near likeness.
9. adj. Closely resembling the genuine article: a dress of near satin; near silver beads.
10. adj. Closer of two or more: Take the near street and then turn right.
11. adj. Being on the left side of an animal or a vehicle.
12. adj. Being the animal or vehicle on the left.
13. adj. Short and direct: the nearest route to town.
14. adj. Stingy; parsimonious.
15. prep. Close to: an inn near London.
16. v. To come close or closer to.
17. v. To draw near or nearer; approach.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. Nigher; more nigh; closer: comparative of nigh.
2. Hence, without comparative force, and with a new comparative nearer, superlative nearest
3. Nigh; close; at, to, or toward a point which is adjacent or not far off: with such verbs as be, come, go, draw, move.
4. Nigh, in a figurative sense.
5. Nautical, close to the wind: opposed to off.
6. Closely; intimately.
7. Almost; nearly.
8. Into close straits; into a critical position.
9. Nigh; close to; close by; at no great distance from.
10. Nigh or close to, in a figurative sense.
11. Being nigh in place; being close by; not distant; adjacent; contiguous.
12. Closely allied by blood; closely akin.
13. Intimate; united in close ties of affection or confidence; familiar: as, a near friend.
14. Affecting one's interest or feelings; touching; coming home to one.
15. Close; not deviating from an original or model; observant of the style or manner of the thing copied; literal: as, a near translation.
16. So as barely to escape injury, danger, or exposure; close; narrow.
17. In riding or driving, on the left: opposed to off; as, the near side; the near fore leg.
18. Short; serving to bring the object close.
19. Economical; closely calculating; also, close; parsimonious.
20. Empty.
21. Synonyms Contiguous, proximate, neighboring, imminent, impending, approaching. Nearest, Next are sometimes synonymous words: as, nearest or next of kin; but specially the first denotes the closest relative proximity, while the second denotes the proximate place in order. Compare the nearest house with the next house.
22. To come near or nearer; stand near; approach: as, the ship neared the land.
23. To come nearer; approach.
24. n. See neer.
25. A contracted form of neither.

Wiktionary

1. adj. Physically close.
2. adj. of an event Approaching.
3. adj. Approximate, almost.
4. adv. Having a small intervening distance with regard to something.
5. adv. colloquial nearly
6. prep. close to, in close proximity to.
7. prep. close to in time.
8. v. To decrease the distance to something.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. adv. At a little distance, in place, time, manner, or degree; not remote; nigh.
2. adv. Nearly; almost; well-nigh.
3. adv. Closely; intimately.
4. adj. Not far distant in time, place, or degree; not remote; close at hand; adjacent; neighboring; nigh.
5. adj. Closely connected or related.
6. adj. Close to one's interests, affection, etc.; touching, or affecting intimately; intimate; dear.
7. adj. Close to anything followed or imitated; not free, loose, or rambling.
8. adj. So as barely to avoid or pass injury or loss; close; narrow{3}.
9. adj. Next to the driver, when he is on foot; in the Unted States, on the left of an animal or a team. See Off side, under Off, a.
10. adj. Immediate; direct; close; short.
11. adj. Obs. or Low, Eng. Close-fisted; parsimonious.
12. prep. Adjacent to; close by; not far from; nigh. See the Note under near, a.
13. v. To approach; to come nearer.
14. v. To draw near; to approach.

WordNet 3.0

1. adv. (of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
2. adj. giving or spending with reluctance
3. adj. very close in resemblance
4. adj. closely resembling the genuine article
5. v. move towards
6. adj. with or in a close or intimate relationship
7. adj. being on the left side
8. adv. near in time or place or relationship
9. adj. not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances