Close and clothes are commonly confused words that are pronounced in the same way but are spelled differently and have different meanings, which makes them homophones. We will examine the different meanings of the homophonic words close and clothes, the word origins of the terms, and some examples of their English usage in sentences.
Close is a verb that means to fasten, to complete, to shut, to fill or block, to come nearer to, to come together, to end. Related words are closes, closed, closing, closer. The word close is derived from the Old French word clore, which means to shut.
Clothes means personal attire, garments, or items worn on the body. Usually, clothes are made out of cloth, but they may be made out of animal skins, paper, or other exotic materials. Clothes is a plural noun and is derived from the Old English word, clāthas, which means clothing.
Examples
Rewarding Associates For Hard Work During Pandemic, Walmart To Close On Thanksgiving Day (Forbes)
The London Metal Exchange has abandoned proposals to permanently close its open outcry trading floor, saving the last such venue in Europe with plans announced on Tuesday to reopen it in September. (Reuters)
Behind every good photoshoot or fashion show is a trusty clothes steamer. (Elle Magazine)
The marketplace Etsy has just ponied up 1.6 billion dollars to buy Depop, the British application specialised in second-hand clothes, which has become an essential app among Gen Z. (Malay Mail)