close-up

A director calls for a close-up of the actor's face.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A photograph or film shot taken at very close range: A "close-up" is a detailed image or view of a subject, typically a person's face or a small object, taken from a short distance to emphasize details.
   • A detailed examination or focus: In a figurative sense, a "close-up" refers to a thorough or intimate look at something.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The director used a close-up of the actor's eyes to convey emotion. (A tightly framed shot focusing on the eyes.)
  • The documentary provides a close-up of the artist's creative process. (A detailed examination of the process.)

Advanced Usage

• "in close-up": used to describe a scene or subject being filmed or photographed very closely.

  • The flower was filmed in close-up to show the delicate petals. (The camera zoomed in for a detailed view.)

• "close-up shot": a specific camera angle in filmmaking.

  • A close-up shot of the hands revealed the character's nervousness. (A tightly framed image of the hands.)

Variants and Related Words

• Close-up (adj): relating to or being a close-up.

  • The photographer used a close-up lens for the portrait. (A lens designed for capturing close-range images.)

• Close-up (adv): from a very short distance.

  • He examined the painting close-up to see the brushstrokes. (From a very near viewpoint.)

Synonyms

• Detail shot: a camera shot focusing on a small area.
• Macro shot: a photograph taken at extremely close range, often used for small objects.
• Intimate view: a figurative term for a thorough examination.

Related Idioms

• Get a close-up view: to examine something in detail.

  • The scientist got a close-up view of the bacteria under the microscope. (Observed the bacteria very closely.)

• In the close-up: during a detailed or intimate moment.

  • In the close-up of the conversation, you could see their true feelings. (During the focused examination of the dialogue.)