closely/ˋkloslI; ˈkləʊsli/adv 1 very carefully 仔细地﹐严密地: I was watching him closely . 我紧紧地盯着他。a closely guarded secret 一个严守的秘密2 if you work closely with someone, you work with them and help them〔合作〕密切地 3 closely related/connected etc having a strong connection 紧密相关的: The two problems are closely related . 这两个问题紧密相关。4 follow closely to happen soon after something else 紧跟着发生: a flash of lightning followed closely by thunder 一道闪电﹐紧接着是雷鸣