shut down

shut down (third-person singular simple present shuts down, present participle shutting down, simple past and past participle shut down)

1. (transitive) To close, terminate, or end.

   They are planning to shut down the entire building at the end of the month.

   • 2010, Jonathan Ashcroft, Scavengers (page 41)

     Alex quickly shut down her argument. 'But I'm the male. They lead in dancing, why shouldn't I be the lead here too? And besides, I was picked, you applied, which basically means I'm the lead anyway. […]

2. (ergative) To turn off or stop.

   It's a good idea to shut down the machine before you leave.

   My computer is shutting down as we speak.

3. (figuratively, intransitive) To emotionally withdraw into oneself as a defense mechanism; to block out external stressors.

   I can't talk to him; he just shuts down anytime I try.

• close down

• shutdown