- at or to a short distance away; nearby近, 在附近：
a bomb exploding somewhere near
一颗炸弹在附近某处爆炸
comparative she took a step nearer.她走近了一步。
- a short time away in the future不久, 很快：
the time for his retirement was drawing near.
他退休的时间临近了。
- as submodifier almost近乎：
a near perfect fit.
几近完美地合身。
- archaic or dialect almost〈古或方〉差不多, 几乎：
I near fell out of the chair.
我差一点从椅子上跌了下来。
- at or to a short distance away from (a place)靠近, 接近：
the car park near the sawmill
靠近锯木厂的停车场
do you live near here?
你住在附近吗？
superlative the table nearest the door.最靠近门的桌子。
- a short period of time from快要, 即将：
near the end of the war
战争快要结束的时候
comparative details will be given nearer the date.细节会在离日期较近的时候提供。
- close to (a state); verging on近乎（一种状态）; 就要：
she gave a tiny smile, brave but near tears
她微微笑了笑, 很勇敢, 可眼泪却快流下来了
she was near to death.
她快死了。
- (used before an amount) a small amount below (something); approaching用于数字前 接近：
temperatures near 2 million degrees K.
接近200万开氏度的温度。
- similar to与…相似：
a shape near to the original.
与原物相似的形状。
- located a short distance away附近的, 接近的：
a big house in the near distance
不远处的一幢大房子
superlative I was fifteen miles from the nearest village.我离最近的村庄有15英里远。
- only a short time ahead不久的：
the conflict is unlikely to be resolved in the near future.
冲突不大可能在近期得到解决。
- similar近似的, 相近的：
superlative walking in these shoes is the nearest thing to floating on air.穿着这双鞋子走路真像飘在空中一样。
- attrib. close to being (the thing mentioned)几乎就是, 近乎：
his state of near despair
他近乎绝望的状态
a near disaster.
几近灾难。
- attrib. having a close family connection近亲的：
the loss of a child or other near relative.
失去孩子或其他近亲。
- attrib. located on the side of a vehicle that is normally closest to the kerb; nearside（车辆）近路缘一侧的：
the near right-hand end window of the caravan.
野营挂车靠路边一侧的右尾窗。比较OFF（义项3）。
- archaic (of a person) mean; miserly〈古〉（人）吝啬的; 小气的。
- come near to (someone or something); approach接近; 靠近：
soon the cab would be nearing Oxford Street
出租车很快就要接近牛津大街了
no obj. lunchtime neared.午饭时间快到了。
near at hand
- within easy reach邻近, 在近旁。
- about to happen or come about即将发生（或来临）：
an all-electric future was near at hand.
一个全面电气化的未来即将来临。
near enough
- sufficiently close to being the case for all practical purposes几乎一样, 差不多。
one's nearest and dearest
- one's close friends and relatives最亲近的人。
so near and yet so far
- a rueful comment on someone's narrow failure to achieve an aim近在眼前远在天边; 可望而不可即。