1at or to a short distance away from (a place):the car park near the sawmill do you live near here? [superlative]:the table nearest the door
2a short period of time from:near the end of the war [comparative]:details will be given nearer the date
3close to (a state); verging on:she gave a tiny smile, brave but near tears she was near to death a small amount below (another amount):temperatures near 2 million degrees
4similar to:a shape near to the original
1located a short distance away:a large house in the near distance [superlative]:I was a mile from the nearest village
2only a short time ahead:the conflict is unlikely to be resolved in the near future
3similar: [superlative]:walking in these shoes is the nearest thing to floating on air [attributive] close to being (the thing mentioned):his state of near despair a near disaster [attributive] having a close family connection: the loss of a child or other near relative
5 archaic (of a person) mean; miserly.
1at or to a short distance away; nearby:a bomb exploded somewhere near [comparative]:she took a step nearer
2a short time away in the future:his retirement was drawing near
3 [as submodifier] almost:a near perfect fit
4 archaic or
dialect nearly:I near fell out of the chair
come near to; approach:soon the cab would be nearing Oxford Street [no object]:lunchtime neared