Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Foreclose \Fore*close"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Foreclosed}; p.
   pr. & vb. n. {Foreclosing}.] [F. forclos, p. p. of forclore
   to exclude; OF. fors, F. hors, except, outside (fr. L. foris
   outside) + F. clore to close. See {Foreign}, and {Close}, v.
   t.]
   To shut up or out; to preclude; to stop; to prevent; to bar;
   to exclude.

         The embargo with Spain foreclosed this trade. --Carew.

   {To foreclose a mortgager} (Law), to cut him off by a
      judgment of court from the power of redeeming the
      mortgaged premises, termed his equity of redemption.

   {To foreclose a mortgage}, (not technically correct, but
      often used to signify) the obtaining a judgment for the
      payment of an overdue mortgage, and the exposure of the
      mortgaged property to sale to meet the mortgage debt.
      --Wharton.