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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)