The act or time of shutting; close.
"The old brick shut behind us led directly to the park, saving us ten minutes of walking around the block."
A narrow alley or passage acting as a short cut through the buildings between two streets.
In plain English: A shut is a piece of wood or metal used to cover an opening so that nothing can get through it.
"The shut on the window is broken and won't stay closed."
To close, to stop from being open.
"Please shut the window before it starts raining outside."
In plain English: To shut something means to close it tightly so nothing can get in or out.
"Please shut the door behind you when you leave."
Usage: Use "shut" as an informal synonym for "close," often implying the action is complete or forceful rather than just opening and closing repeatedly. It functions identically to "close" in most everyday contexts but sounds more casual when referring to doors, windows, or eyes.
Closed; not open.
"The store was shut when we arrived, so we had to go home without buying anything."
In plain English: Shut means not open or closed tight.
"The shut door made it impossible for anyone to enter."
The word "shut" comes from Middle English and Old English roots meaning to cause rapid movement or bolt a door. It entered standard English as a dialect form that avoided merging with the modern word "shit."