Close charged up around end of crease (4)
I believe the answer is:
near
'close' is the definition.
('near' can be a synonym of 'close')
'charged up around end of crease' is the wordplay.
'charged' becomes 'ran' (**).
'up' is a reversal indicator (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'around' is an insertion indicator.
'end of' says to take the final letters.
The last letter of 'crease' is 'e'.
'ran' written backwards gives 'nar'.
'nar' going around 'e' is 'NEAR'.
(Other definitions for near that I've seen before include "unlikely to spend much?" , "Nigh" , "Close to - stingy - approach" , "A short distance away" , "(Get) close to" .)