Meaning & Definition of word "Shut"

Shut

/ʃʌt/

noun:

  • 1. The act of shutting something.
    • Example: With a final shut of the door, she left the past behind.

verb:

  • 1. To close something or to be closed; to make something not open.
    • Example: Please shut the door when you leave.
  • 2. To stop operation; to cease functioning.
    • Example: The factory was shut down due to safety violations.
  • 3. To block off or prevent somebody from accessing something.
    • Example: They shut him out of the meeting because of his poor behavior.

adjective:

  • 1. Not open; blocked.
    • Example: The shut window kept the room warm.

Etymology

Middle English 'shutten', of unknown origin.

Common Phrases and Expressions

shut up:

To stop talking.

shut one's eyes:

To ignore something.

shut the door:

To end an opportunity.

shut off:

To stop the flow of something.

shut down:

To cease operations.

Related Words

closure:

The act of closing.

shutter:

A device that opens and closes a window or door.

shutting:

The act of closing.

shutdown:

The process of closing something down.

Slang Meanings of shut

Meaning: To be quiet or stop talking.

Example Sentence: When she started ranting, I just told her to shut.

Meaning: To dismiss or ignore someone.

Example Sentence: He just wanted to shut her down when she disagreed.