Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - closet

~1 n 1 come out of the closet a) to tell people that you are homosexual after hiding the fact b) to admit you believe something or to discuss something that was previously kept secret 2 especially AmE a cupboard built into the wall of a room from the floor to the ceiling  (Jean had a closet full of clothes that most teenagers would kill for.)  (- compare wardrobe) 3 old use a small room where people went to study, pray etc alone  (- see also water-closet, a skeleton in the closet skeleton (4)) ~2 adj closet homosexual/alcoholic etc someone who is a homosexual, alcoholic etc but who does not want to admit it  (Not all teachers are closet radicals.) ~3 v (T, usually passive) to shut someone in a room away from other people in order to be alone or to discuss something private  (closet yourself away)  (Bill closeted himself away in his study for hours on end.)