English Dictionary

Definition of “opening”

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Word Frequency

Word Frequency of opening

opening (ˈəʊpənɪŋ Pronunciation for opening ) 

Definitions

noun

  1. the act of making or becoming open
  2. a vacant or unobstructed space, esp one that will serve as a passageway; gap
  3. (mainly US) a tract in a forest in which trees are scattered or absent
  4. the first part or stage of something
    1. the first performance of something, esp a theatrical production
    2. (as modifier) ⇒ the opening night
  6. a specific or formal sequence of moves at the start of any of certain games, esp chess or draughts
  7. an opportunity or chance, esp for employment or promotion in a business concern
  8. (law) the preliminary statement made by counsel to the court or jury before adducing evidence in support of his case

open (ˈəʊpən Pronunciation for open ) 

Definitions

adjective

  1. not closed or barred ⇒ the door is open
  2. affording free passage, access, view, etc; not blocked or obstructed ⇒ the road is open for traffic
  3. not sealed, fastened, or wrapped ⇒ an open package
  4. having the interior part accessible ⇒ an open drawer
  5. extended, expanded, or unfolded ⇒ an open newspaper, an open flower
  6. ready for business ⇒ the shops are open
  7. able to be obtained; available ⇒ the position advertised last week is no longer open
  8. unobstructed by buildings, trees, etc ⇒ open countryside
  9. free to all to join, enter, use, visit, etc ⇒ an open competition
  10. unengaged or unoccupied ⇒ the doctor has an hour open for you to call
  11. See open season
  12. not decided or finalized ⇒ an open question
  13. ready to entertain new ideas; not biased or prejudiced ⇒ an open mind
  14. unreserved or candid ⇒ she was very open in her description
  15. liberal or generous ⇒ an open hand
  16. extended or eager to receive (esp in the phrase with open arms)
  17. exposed to view; blatant ⇒ open disregard of the law
  18. liable or susceptible ⇒ you will leave yourself open to attack if you speak
  19. (of climate or seasons) free from frost; mild
  20. free from navigational hazards, such as ice, sunken ships, etc ⇒ open water
  21. (US) without legal restrictions or enforceable regulations, esp in relation to gambling, vice, etc ⇒ an open town
  22. without barriers to prevent absconding ⇒ an open prison
  23. having large or numerous spacing or apertures ⇒ open ranks
  24. full of small openings or gaps; porous ⇒ an open texture
  25. (printing) (of type matter) generously leaded or widely spaced
  26. (music)
    1. (of a violin or guitar string) not stopped with the finger
    2. (of a pipe, such as an organ pipe) not closed at either end
    3. (of a note) played on such a string or pipe
  27. (business)
    1. in operation; active ⇒ an open account
    2. unrestricted; unlimited ⇒ open credit, open insurance cover
  28. See open cheque
  29. (of a return ticket) not specifying a date for travel
  30. (sport)
    1. (of a goal, court, etc) unguarded or relatively unprotected ⇒ the forward missed an open goal
    2. (of a stance, esp in golf) characterized by the front of the body being turned forward
  31. (of a wound) exposed to the air
  32. (esp of the large intestine) free from obstruction
  33. undefended and of no military significance ⇒ an open city
  34. (phonetics)
    1. denoting a vowel pronounced with the lips relatively wide apart
    2. denoting a syllable that does not end in a consonant, as in pa
  35. (chess) (of a file) having no pawns on it
  36. (mathematics) (of a set) containing points whose neighbourhood consists of other points of the same set ⇒ points inside a circle are an open set
  37. (computing) (of software or a computer system) designed to an internationally agreed standard in order to allow communication between computers, irrespective of size, maufacturer, etc

verb

  1. to move or cause to move from a closed or fastened position ⇒ to open a window
  2. when intr, foll by on or onto to render, be, or become accessible or unobstructed ⇒ to open a road, to open a parcel, the door opens into the hall
  3. intr to come into or appear in view ⇒ the lake opened before us
  4. tr to puncture (a boil) so as to permit drainage
  5. to extend or unfold or cause to extend or unfold ⇒ to open a newspaper
  6. to disclose or uncover or be disclosed or uncovered ⇒ to open one's heart
  7. to cause (the mind) to become receptive or (of the mind) to become receptive
  8. to operate or cause to operate ⇒ to open a shop
  9. when intr, sometimes foll by out to make or become less compact or dense in structure ⇒ to open ranks
  10. to set or be set in action; start ⇒ to open a discussion, to open the batting
  11. tr to arrange for (a bank account, savings account, etc) usually by making an initial deposit
  12. to turn to a specified point in (a book, magazine, etc) ⇒ open at page one
  13. (law) to make the opening statement in (a case before a court of law)
  14. intr (cards) to bet, bid, or lead first on a hand

noun

  1. See the open

  2. See open air
  3. (sport) a competition which anyone may enter

  4. See bring into the open

  5. See come into the open

See also

open up

Derived Forms

ˈopenable adjective
ˈopenly adverb
ˈopenness noun

Word Origin

Old English; related to Old French open, epen, Old Saxon opan, Old High German offan

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= unclosed, unlocked, ajar, unfastened, yawning, gaping, unlatched, unbolted, partly open, unbarred, opN, off the latch,
= unsealed, unstoppered, opN,
= extended, expanded, unfolded, stretched out, spread out, unfurled, straightened out, unrolled, opN,
= frank, direct, natural, plain, innocent, straightforward, sincere, transparent, honest, candid, truthful, upfront, plain-spoken, above board, unreserved, artless, ingenuous, guileless, straight from the shoulder, opN,
= obvious, clear, frank, plain, apparent, visible, patent, evident, distinct, pronounced, manifest, transparent, noticeable, blatant, conspicuous, downright, overt, unmistakable, palpable, recognizable, avowed, flagrant, perceptible, much in evidence, undisguised, unsubtle, barefaced, unconcealed, opN,
= receptive, welcoming, sympathetic, responsive, amenable, opN
= susceptible, subject, exposed, vulnerable, in danger, disposed, liable, wide open, unprotected, at the mercy of, left open, laid bare, an easy target for, undefended, laid open, defenceless against, unfortified, opN,
= unresolved, doubtful, unsettled, unanswered, undecided, debatable, unsolved, up in the air, moot, arguable, yet to be decided, opN
= clear, free, passable, uncluttered, unhindered, unimpeded, navigable, unobstructed, unhampered, opN,
= unenclosed, wide, rolling, sweeping, exposed, extensive, bare, spacious, wide-open, undeveloped, uncrowded, unfenced, not built-up, unsheltered, opN,
= undone, gaping, unbuttoned, unzipped, agape, unfastened, opN,
= available, to hand, accessible, handy, vacant, on hand, obtainable, attainable, at your fingertips, at your disposal, opN
= general, public, free, catholic, broad, universal, blanket, unconditional, across-the-board, unqualified, all-inclusive, unrestricted, overarching, free to all, nondiscriminatory, opN, one-size-fits-all,
= vacant, free, available, empty, up for grabs, unoccupied, unfilled, unengaged, opN
= generous, kind, liberal, charitable, benevolent, prodigal, bountiful, open-handed, unstinting, beneficent, bounteous, munificent, ungrudging, opN
= gappy, loose, lacy, porous, honeycombed, spongy, filigree, fretted, holey, openwork
= unfasten, unlock, unclasp, throw wide, unbolt, opN, unbar, unclose, unzip,
= unwrap, uncover, undo, unravel, untie, unstrap, unseal, unlace, opN,
= uncork, crack (open), broach, opN
= unfold, spread (out), expand, stretch out, unfurl, unroll, opN,
= clear, unblock, opN,
= undo, loosen, unbutton, unfasten, opN,
= begin business, start trading, begin trading, admit customers, opN
= start, begin, launch, trigger, kick off, initiate, commence, get going, instigate, kick-start, inaugurate, set in motion, get (something) off the ground, enter upon, opN,
= begin, start, commence, opN,
= split, break, separate, crack, burst, break up, give way, gape, rupture, come apart, opN
= reveal, bare, exhibit, disclose, divulge, lay bare, expose to view, opN

Translations for 'opening'

  • British English: opening The opening event, item, day, or week in a series is the first one. ADJECTIVEThey returned to take part in the season's opening game.
  • Brazilian Portuguese: de abertura
  • Chinese: 第一个的第一个個的
  • European Spanish: de apertura
  • French: d'ouverture
  • German: Eröffnungs-
  • Italian: di apertura
  • Japanese: 始まりの
  • Korean: 처음의
  • Portuguese: de abertura
  • Spanish: de apertura
  • British English: opening The opening of something such as a book, play, or concert is the first part of it. NOUNThe opening of the scene depicts him and his family in a moment of intimacy.book, play
  • Brazilian Portuguese: abertura
  • Chinese: 开始部分书、戏剧、音乐会的开開始部分
  • European Spanish: apertura
  • French: début
  • German: Eröffnung
  • Italian: inizio
  • Japanese: 冒頭
  • Korean: 서두
  • Portuguese: abertura
  • Spanish: apertura
  • British English: opening An opening is a hole or empty space through which things or people can pass. NOUNHe squeezed through a narrow opening in the fence.hole
  • Brazilian Portuguese: abertura
  • Chinese: 缺口
  • European Spanish: abertura
  • French: ouverture
  • German: Öffnung
  • Italian: apertura
  • Japanese: 穴
  • Korean: 구멍
  • Portuguese: abertura
  • Spanish: abertura
  • British English: opening An opening is a job that is available. NOUNWe don't have any openings now, but we'll call you if something comes up.job
  • Brazilian Portuguese: vaga
  • Chinese: 空缺的职位空缺的职職位
  • European Spanish: vacante
  • French: poste vacant
  • German: freie Stelle
  • Italian: sbocco
  • Japanese: 就職口
  • Korean: 빈 자리
  • Portuguese: vaga
  • Spanish: vacante

Example Sentences Including 'opening'

At present there is a definite upsurge in new shops opening , complementing existing supermarkets.
Glasgow Herald (2001)
He did some additional dubbing for Novecento, which was opening at the New York Film Festival.
John Baxter DE NIRO: A Biography (2002)
I passed by an art gallery in Mayfair and suddenly remembered Marianne's opening at Joseph Kimberly.
Hugo Wilcken THE EXECUTION (2002)
Kazakhstan maintained their 100 % record with an 8-3 win over Estonia, having beaten China 12-1 on the opening day.
Glasgow Herald (2001)
Liverpool were prepared to be patient, keeping possession as they probed for an opening.
Irish Times (2002)
One bedroom, one living room, a small bathroom, a tiny kitchen opening onto a slender balcony.
Mark Burnell CHAMELEON (2002)
Open everyday 10am-6pm and late opening Thursday and Friday until 9pm.
Country Life (2005)
She looked wide-eyed towards the doorway where he stood, and opening her mouth she screamed.
Stuart Harrison LOST SUMMER (2002)
The home team stayed with the favourites during a keenly-contested opening quarter at which stage the teams were level at 0-3 apiece.
Irish Times (2002)

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