serré

Serré is a French adjective and the past participle of serre r, meaning to tighten or press. It denotes that something is held tightly, closed firmly, or packed closely. The word agrees in gender and number: serré (masc. sing.), serrée (fem. sing.), serrés (masc. plural), serrées (fem. plural).

Usage and senses

In everyday language, serré describes physical tightness or a snug fit, such as un col serré (a tight collar), des lacets serrés (tight laces), or une vis serrée (a tightly fastened screw). It can also refer to density or crowding, for example une foule serrée (a dense crowd) or une rue serrée (a narrow, compact street). The term extends to grips and holds, as in une poignée serrée (a tight grip) or une prise serrée (a firm grasp).

Figuratively, serré can characterize close-knit relationships or groups, as in un cercle serré (a tight-knit circle) or une équipe serrée (a closely knit team). It is also used to describe fitting garments or equipment that are snug, restrictive, or efficiently packed.

Related forms and related terms

The related verb serrer means to tighten, press, or squeeze, and the formed verb resserrer means to tighten again. The noun serre (with one r) exists in other senses, such as a greenhouse, but is etymologically separate from the adjective serré.

Notes

Serré is common in formal and colloquial contexts. Proper spelling follows standard agreement rules, yielding serré, serrée, serrés, or serrées depending on gender and number.