near

Everyday

1. Near means close, not far away. The shop is near my house. tree →
2. Near can mean close in time: «Summer is near.» tree →
3. To near something is to come closer to it. tree →
4. «Nearest» means the closest one. tree →
5. «Near» can mean almost: «a near miss». tree →

In the lessons

a place word; «nearest» can mean rounding to the nearest ten or whole number; in everyday life «near» tells where things are; in safety stay near your group or a grown-up; phrases «near by» (nearby), «nearly» (almost), «near and far», «a near miss»

Examples

• The park is near the school. tree →
• Round 47 to the nearest ten. tree →
• Who lives nearer to the lake? tree →
• There are 5 trees near the pond. tree →
• Stay near me in the crowd. tree →
• The holidays are near. tree →
• Round 3.6 to the nearest whole number. tree →
• As the ship neared the shore, we saw the lighthouse. tree →

Note

As a place word it carries no operation. «To the nearest ten/whole» means round. «Nearer» compares distances. Trap: rounding is done at the end unless the problem says otherwise. «Nearly» means almost, not «close by»: «nearly 50» is a bit less than 50.

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah, to come near often means to approach a person, the altar, or God, sometimes in worship.

Interpretation. The Torah uses "come near" for the priests and Levites approaching the altar, and the law restricts who may do so. Tradition also teaches that the word of God is very near, in the mouth and heart.

Examples

• And he came near, and kissed him. (Torah GEN.27.27, JPS 1917) tree →
• Then the handmaids came near, they and their children, and they bowed down. (Torah GEN.33.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the LORD. (Torah NUM.5.16, JPS 1917) tree →
• Make ready buckler and shield, and draw near to battle. (Prophets JER.46.3, JPS 1917) tree →
• So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. (Writings EST.5.2, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days. (Prophets 1SA.17.16, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

As a place word it carries no operation. «To the nearest ten/whole» means round. «Nearer» compares distances. Trap: rounding is done at the end unless the problem says otherwise. «Nearly» means almost, not «close by»: «nearly 50» is a bit less than 50.