Item ain't terribly close (8)
I believe the answer is:
intimate
'close' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'item ain't terribly' is the wordplay.
'terribly' indicates an anagram.
'item'+'aint'='itemaint'
'itemaint' is an anagram of 'INTIMATE'.
(Other definitions for intimate that I've seen before include "Bosom" , "Close acquaintance" , "Hint to a familiar friend" , "Private and personal like close acquaintanceship" , "Personal - hint - friend" .)