Latvian

Adjective

ciešs (def. ciešais, comp. ciešāks, sup. visciešākais; adv. cieši)

1. dense, tight (with component parts that are linked or very close to each other)

   ciešs audums‎ ― tight fabric, cloth

   cieša ziedkopa‎ ― tight, dense inflorescence

   ciešs krāvums, tinums‎ ― tight stacking, winding

2. tight, close (with people standing close to each other)

   sastāties ciešā lokā‎ ― to stand in a tight, close circle

   cieša kolonna‎ ― tight, close column

3. (figuratively) close, united

   ciešā saimē izcīnīsim cīņu‎ ― as (lit. in) a close family we will win the fight

4. (of clothes, ties, etc.) tight, close (strongly bound, tied)

   ciešs līmējums, mezgls‎ ― tight bond, knot

   cieša apkaklīte‎ ― tight collar

5. (of movements) tight, strong, determined

   ciešs rokas spiediens‎ ― tight handshake

   cieši sakost zobus‎ ― to clech one's teeth tight

6. (of relations) tight, close, strong

   cieša sadarbība‎ ― close cooperation

   ciešas saites ar kolektīvu‎ ― close ties with the team

   uzturēt ciešus sakarus ar draudzīgām zemēm‎ ― to maintain close contact, relations with friendly countries

7. (of thoughts, ideas, promises) tight, strong, rigid, unalterable

   cieša parliecība, ticība, noruna‎ ― strong belief, faith, agreement

   ciešs solījums‎ ― solemn promise

8. (of sleep) tight, deep

   viņš gan naktī neesot nekā dzirdējis, gulējis ciešu miegu‎ ― he had heard nothing during the night, (he) slept a tight sleep

9. (of looks) tight, hard, attentive, concentrated

   Frickalna pelēkajām acīm arvien bija ciešs skatiens, it kā viņš pētītu to, ko sarunu biedrs nepasaka‎ ― Frickalns' gray eyes had a tight, concentrated look, as if he were studying what his conversation partner did not say

10. (adverbial form; of people, objects) tightly close, very near (syn. ciets)

    pienākt cieši klāt‎ ― to come very close

    sēdēt cieši kopā‎ ― to sit close together

Declension

Synonyms

• (of "with parts very close to each other"): blīvs
• (of "sleep"; "close by"; "strong (movement)"; "concentrated (look)"): ciets

Antonyms

• (of clothes, ties): brīvs

References

1. ↑ Karulis, Konstantīns (1992), “ciets”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, ISBN 9984-700-12-7