1move (something) into position so as to block an opening; close:shut the window, pleaseshe shut her lips tight (as adjective shut)she slammed the door shut
[no object] move or be able to be moved so as to block an opening:the door shut behind him
block an opening into (something) by moving something into position:he shut the box and locked it
[with object and adverbial] keep in a place by closing something such as a door:it was his own dog which he had accidentally shut outside
2fold or bring together the sides of (something) so as to close it:he shut his book
3prevent access to or along:they ought to shut the path up to that terrible cliff
make or become unavailable for business or service, either permanently or until due to be open again: [with object]:we shut the shop for lunch [no object]:the accident and emergency departments will shut
4 [no object] (shut it) [in imperative] informal stop talking; be quiet:‘Sit down and shut it’, he growled
be (or get) shut of
informal be (or get) rid of:I’d be glad to be shut of him
informal used as a rude or angry way of telling someone to be quiet.
shut someone/thing away
keep someone or something inside a place so as not to be seen or contacted by other people:she supposes that Mrs Tilney was shut away in her bedroom chamber
shut down (or shut something down)
cease (or cause something to cease) business or operation:the plant’s operators decided to shut down the reactor
shut someone/thing in
keep someone or something inside a place by closing something such as a door:her parents shut her in an upstairs room
enclose or surround a place:the village is shut in by the mountains on either side
trap something by shutting a door or drawer on it:you shut your finger in the door
shut off (or shut something off)
(especially in relation to water, electricity, or gas) stop (or cause to stop) flowing:he was about to shut off the power
stop (or cause to stop) working:the engines shut off automatically
(shut something off) block the entrances and exits of something:the six compartments were being shut off from each other
shut oneself off
isolate oneself from other people:I couldn’t shut myself off forever
shut someone/thing out
1screen someone or something from view:clouds shut out the stars
block something from the mind:anything he didn’t like he shut out
2prevent something from occurring or someone from doing something:there was a high-mindedness which shut out any consideration of alternatives
shut up (or shut someone up)
[often in imperative] informal stop (or cause someone to stop) talking:just shut up and listen
shut something up
close all doors and windows of a building or room, typically because it will be unoccupied for some time:most of its stately rooms were shut up
