[nɪə], (Adverb)

Definitions:
- at or to a short distance away; nearby
(e.g: a bomb exploded somewhere near)

- a short time away in the future
(e.g: his retirement was drawing near)

- almost
(e.g: a near perfect fit)

- nearly
(e.g: I near fell out of the chair)


Phrases:
- as near as
- near at hand
- near enough
- one's nearest and dearest
- so near and yet so far
- to the nearest —

Origin:
Middle English: from Old Norse nær ‘nearer’, comparative of ná, corresponding to Old English nēah ‘nigh’

[nɪə], (Adposition)

Definitions:
- at or to a short distance away from (a place)
(e.g: the car park near the sawmill)

- a short period of time from
(e.g: near the end of the war)

- close to (a state); verging on
(e.g: she gave a tiny smile, brave but near tears)

- similar to
(e.g: a shape near to the original)


Phrases:
- as near as
- near at hand
- near enough
- one's nearest and dearest
- so near and yet so far
- to the nearest —

Origin:
Middle English: from Old Norse nær ‘nearer’, comparative of ná, corresponding to Old English nēah ‘nigh’

[nɪə], (Adjective)

Definitions:
- located a short distance away
(e.g: a large house in the near distance)

- only a short time ahead
(e.g: the conflict is unlikely to be resolved in the near future)

- similar
(e.g: walking in these shoes is the nearest thing to floating on air)

- located on the nearside of a vehicle
(e.g: the near right-hand end window of the caravan)

- (of a person) mean; miserly


Phrases:
- as near as
- near at hand
- near enough
- one's nearest and dearest
- so near and yet so far
- to the nearest —

Origin:
Middle English: from Old Norse nær ‘nearer’, comparative of ná, corresponding to Old English nēah ‘nigh’

[nɪə], (Verb)

Definitions:
- come near to; approach
(e.g: soon the cab would be nearing Oxford Street)


Phrases:
- as near as
- near at hand
- near enough
- one's nearest and dearest
- so near and yet so far
- to the nearest —

Origin:
Middle English: from Old Norse nær ‘nearer’, comparative of ná, corresponding to Old English nēah ‘nigh’