Definition of 'open'
Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense opens
, present participle opening
, past tense, past participle opened
1. verb
If you open something such as a door, window, or lid, or if it opens, its position is changed so that it no longer covers a hole or gap.
2. verb
If you open something such as a bottle, box, parcel, or envelope, you move, remove, or cut part of it so you can take out what is inside.
Open up means the same as open.
[Also VERB noun PARTICLE]3. verb
If you open something such as a book, an umbrella, or your hand, or if it opens, the different parts of it move away from each other so that the inside of it can
be seen.
Open is also an adjective.
Open out means the same as open.
[Also VERB PARTICLE noun]4. verb
If you open a computer file, you give the computer an instruction to display it on the screen.
[computing] 5. verb
6. verb
If you open your arms, you stretch them wide apart in front of you, usually in order to put them
round someone.
7. graded adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
8. adjective
If you describe a person or their character as open, you mean they are honest and do not want or try to hide anything or to deceive anyone.
9. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
If you describe a situation, attitude, or way of behaving as open, you mean it is not kept hidden or secret.
10. adjective
If you are open to suggestions or ideas, you are ready and willing to consider or accept them.
11. adjective
12. adjective
If you say that a fact or question is open to debate, interpretation, or discussion, you mean that people are uncertain whether it is true, what it means, or what the answer is.
13. verb
If people open something such as a blocked road or a border, or if it opens, people can then pass along it or through it.
Open is also an adjective.
Open up means the same as open.
When the Berlin Wall came down it wasn't just the roads that opened up but the waterways
too. [VERB PARTICLE]
[Also VERB noun PARTICLE] 14. verb
If a place opens into another, larger place, you can move from one directly into the other.
Open out means the same as open.
15. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
An open area is a large area that does not have many buildings or trees in it.
17. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
An open wound is one from which a liquid such as blood is coming.
18. verb
19. verb
When a shop, office, or public building opens or is opened, its doors are unlocked and the public can go in.
20. verb
When a public building, factory, or company opens or when someone opens it, it starts operating for the first time.
21. verb
If something such as a meeting or series of talks opens, or if someone opens it, it begins.
22. verb
If an event such as a meeting or discussion opens with a particular activity or if a particular activity opens an event, that activity is the first thing that happens or is dealt with. You can
also say that someone such as a speaker or singer opens by doing a particular thing.
She opened with an impressive version of 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking
For'. [VERB with noun]
[Also V n + by]
23. verb
On the stock exchange, the price at which currencies, shares, or commodities open is their value at the start of that day's trading.
[business]
24. verb
When a film, play, or other public event opens, it begins to be shown, be performed, or take place for a limited period of time.
25. verb
If you open an account with a bank or a commercial organization, you begin to use their services.
26. adjective
If an opportunity or choice is open to you, you are able to do a particular thing if you choose to.
27. verb
28. adjective
You can use open to describe something that anyone is allowed to take part in or accept.
29. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
30. See also opening [sense 6]
31.
See in the open
32.
33.
See wide open
34.
See wide open
35. with open arms
36. to open the door
40. to open fire
42. the heavens open
43. an open mind
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
You may also like
Word Frequency
open in British English
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
6.
ready for business
the shops are open
7.
able to be obtained; available
the position advertised last week is no longer open
9.
free to all to join, enter, use, visit, etc
an open competition
11. See open season
16.
extended or eager to receive (esp in the phrase with open arms)
21. US
without legal restrictions or enforceable regulations, esp in relation to gambling, vice, etc
an open town
26. music
a.
(of a violin or guitar string) not stopped with the finger
b.
(of a pipe, such as an organ pipe) not closed at either end
c.
(of a note) played on such a string or pipe
27. business
a.
in operation; active
an open account
28. See open cheque
29.
(of a return ticket) not specifying a date for travel
31.
(of a wound) exposed to the air
32.
(esp of the large intestine) free from obstruction
34. phonetics
a.
denoting a vowel pronounced with the lips relatively wide apart
b.
denoting a syllable that does not end in a consonant, as in pa
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, manufacturer, etc
verb
38.
to move or cause to move from a closed or fastened position
to open a window
39. (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
40. (intransitive)
to come into or appear in view
the lake opened before us
42.
to extend or unfold or cause to extend or unfold
to open a newspaper
44.
to cause (the mind) to become receptive or (of the mind) to become receptive
45.
to operate or cause to operate
to open a shop
46. (when intr, sometimes foll by out)
to make or become less compact or dense in structure
to open ranks
47.
to set or be set in action; start
to open a discussion
to open the batting
48. (transitive)
to arrange for (a bank account, savings account, etc) usually by making an initial deposit
49.
to turn to a specified point in (a book, magazine, etc)
open at page one
50. law
to make the opening statement in (a case before a court of law)
51. (intransitive) cards
to bet, bid, or lead first on a hand
noun
52. See the open
53. See open air
54. sport
a competition which anyone may enter
55. See bring into the open
56. See come into the open
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
openable (ˈopenable) adjective
openly (ˈopenly)
adverb
openness (ˈopenness)
noun
Word origin
Old English; related to Old French open, epen, Old Saxon opan, Old High German offanWord Frequency
open in American English
adjective
1.
a.
open doors
b.
closed, but unlocked
the car is open
2.
a.
in a state which permits freedom of view or passage; not enclosed, fenced in, sheltered,
screened, etc.; unobstructed; clear
open fields
b.
having few or no trees, houses, etc.
open country
4.
a.
not covered over; without covering, top, etc.
5.
spread out; unfolded; unclosed; expanded
an open book
7.
free from ice
the lake is open
8.
having relatively little snow or frost; mild
an open winter
9.
a.
that may be entered, used, competed in, shared, visited, etc. by all
an open meeting
b.
ready to admit customers, clients, etc.
11.
b.
liberal; generous
12.
a. US
free from legal restrictions
an open season on deer
c. US
free from effective regulation with respect to drinking, gambling, etc.
the city is wide open
d.
not regulated, organized, or conducted along traditional or conventional lines
open marriage, open education
14.
in force or operation
an open account
15.
a.
not already taken, occupied, or engaged
the job is still open
b.
free to be accepted or rejected
16.
not closed against access; accessible; available
17.
not hidden or secret; generally known; public
an open quarrel
18.
frank; candid; direct; honest
an open manner
19. Ancient Mathematics
of a set of points that is the complement of a closed set of points, as the set of all points outside a circle
20. Music
a.
not stopped by the finger
said of a stringb.
not closed at the top
said of an organ pipec.
produced by an open string or pipe, or, in wind instruments, brasses, etc., without
a slide or key
said of a toned.
not muted
21. Phonetics
a.
articulated with the tongue as low as possible in the mouth; low
said of certain vowelsb.
articulated with the tongue in the lower of two possible positions
the open e and close e in Italian
22. Printing
a.
designating or of a style of type the letters of which are cast in outline so that
the inside of letters shows white
b.
with wide spacing between words or lines of type; not solid
verb transitive
24.
to make or cause to be open
; specif.,
b.
to remove obstructions from
to open a drain
25.
a.
to make an opening or openings in
to open an abscess
b.
to make or produce (a hole, way, etc.)
26.
to make spaces between; spread out; expand
to open ranks
28.
to make accessible or subject (to an influence or action); expose
29.
to make available for use, competition, or participation, without restriction, taxation, fee, etc.
30.
to free from prejudice and bigotry; make liberal and generous
to open one's mind
31.
to make known, public, etc.; reveal; disclose
33.
to cause to start operating, going, etc.
to open a new shop
34.
to undo, recall, or set aside (a judgment, settlement, etc.), so as to leave the matter open to further
action
verb intransitive
35.
to become open
36.
to spread out; expand; unroll; unfold
37.
to become free from prejudice, etc.; become liberal and generous
38.
to become revealed, disclosed, etc.; come into view
39.
to be or act as an opening; give access
with to, into, on, etc.40.
to begin; start
41.
to start operating, going, bidding, etc.; specif., in the stock exchange, to show
an indicated price level at the beginning of the day
steel opened high
42.
to begin a series of performances, games, etc.
noun
43. [usually O-]
any of various tournaments, esp. in golf or tennis, open to both professionals and amateurs
SIMILAR WORDS: frank
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
opened (ˈopened)
adjective
openly (ˈopenly)
adverb
openness (ˈopenness)
noun
Word Frequency
open in American English
(ˈoupən)
adjective
1.
not closed or barred at the time, as a doorway by a door, a window by a sash, or a gateway by a gate
to leave the windows open at night
2. (of a door, gate, window sash, or the like)
set so as to permit passage through the opening it can be used to close
3.
having no means of closing or barring
an open portico
4.
having the interior immediately accessible, as a box with the lid raised or a drawer that is pulled out
5.
relatively free of obstructions to sight, movement, or internal arrangement
an open floor plan
6.
constructed so as to be without cover or enclosure on the top or on some or all sides
an open boat
7.
having relatively large or numerous spaces, voids, or intervals
an open architectural screen
open ranks of soldiers
9.
relatively unoccupied by buildings, fences, trees, etc
open country
10.
not covered or closed; with certain parts apart
open eyes
open mouth
11.
without a covering, esp. a protective covering; unprotected; unenclosed; exposed
an open wound
open electrical wires
12.
extended or unfolded
an open newspaper
13.
without restrictions as to who may participate
an open competition
an open session
14.
accessible or available to follow
the only course still open to us
16.
ready for or carrying on normal trade or business
The new store is now open
The office is open on Saturdays
17.
not engaged or committed
Have you any open time on Monday?
18.
accessible, as to appeals, ideas, or offers
to be open to suggestion
19.
exposed to general view or knowledge; existing, carried on, etc., without concealment
open disregard of the rules
20.
acting publicly or without concealment, as a person
21.
unreserved, candid, or frank, as persons or their speech, aspect, etc
an open manner
23.
liable or subject
open to question
open to retaliation
26.
unguarded by an opponent
an open wide receiver
28.
free of ice, as a body of water or a seaport
29.
free of navigational hazards
an open coast
30. (of a seaport)
available for foreign trade; not closed by government regulations or by considerations
of health
31. (of a microphone)
in operation; live
32. (of a delimiting punctuation mark)
occurring at the beginning of a group of words or characters that is set off, as from
surrounding text
open parenthesis
open quotes
Compare close (sense 56)33.
not yet balanced or adjusted, as an account
34.
not constipated, as the bowels
35. Phonetics
a. (of a vowel)
b. (of a syllable)
ending with a vowel
36. Linguistics (of a class of items)
readily admitting new members, as the class of nouns, verbs, or adjectives (opposed to closed)
37. Printing
a. (of type)
in outline form
b.
widely spaced or leaded, as printed matter
38. Music
a. (of an organ pipe)
not closed at the far end
b. (of a string)
not stopped by a finger
c. (of a note)
produced by such a pipe or string or, on a wind instrument, without the aid of a slide,
key, etc
39. Math
a. (of an interval)
containing neither endpoint
b. (of a set)
consisting of points having neighborhoods wholly contained in the set, as the set of points within a circle
c. (of a map from one topological space to another)
having the property that the image of an open set is an open set
40.
free from frost; mild or moderate
an open winter
42. Textiles (of a fabric or weave)
so loosely woven that spaces are visible between warp and filling yarns
transitive verb
43.
to move (a door, window sash, etc.) from a shut or closed position so as to admit
of passage
44.
to render (a doorway, gateway, window, etc.) unobstructed by moving a door, window
sash, etc., away from it
45.
to render the interior of (a box, drawer, etc.) readily accessible
46.
to clear (a passage, channel, etc.) of obstructions
47.
to clear (areas or passages in the body)
48.
to give access to; make accessible or available, as for use
to open a port for trade
49.
to establish for business purposes or for public use
to open an office
50. (sometimes fol. by up)
to set in action, begin, start, or commence
to open a campaign
51.
to uncover, lay bare, or expose to view
52.
to expand, unfold, or spread out
to open a map
53.
to make less compact, less closely spaced, or the like
to open ranks
54.
to disclose, reveal, or divulge
57.
to make or produce (an opening) by cutting or breaking, or by pushing aside or removing
obstructions
to open a way through a crowd
60. Cards
to begin a hand by making (the first bid), placing (the first bet), or playing (a
given card or suit) as the lead
61. Nautical (sometimes fol. by out)
to sail (a course) so that the apparent location of a distant fixed object changes
with relation to a nearer fixed object
intransitive verb
62.
to become open, as a door, building, box, or enclosure
63.
to afford access
a door that opens into a garden
65. (of a building, theater, etc.)
to open its doors to the public
The museum opens at one o'clock
66.
to begin a session or term, as a school
67.
to begin a season, series of performances, or tour, as a theatrical company
The play will open in Boston
68.
to begin, start, or commence an activity
The game opened with the national anthem
69.
to part, or seem to part, so as to allow or reveal a passage
At last the cliffs opened to show us that we were heading for the sea
70.
to become disclosed or revealed
71.
to come into view; become more visible or plain
72.
to become receptive to knowledge, sympathy, etc., as the mind
73.
to disclose or reveal one's knowledge, thoughts, feelings, etc
74.
to unfold or expand, as a blossom, so as to reveal the interior
75.
to spread out or expand, as the hand or a fan
76.
to spread apart or separate, as pages of a book, newspaper, etc
Open to page 32
77.
to spread or come apart; burst
The wound opened
78.
to become less compact, less closely spaced, or the like
The ranks began to open
79. Cards
to make the first bet, bid, or lead in beginning a hand
80. Hunting (of hounds)
to begin to bark, as on the scent of game
81. See open up
noun
SYNONYMS 21. See frank1.82.
an open or clear space
83.
the open air
84.
the open water, as of the sea
85.
an opening or aperture
86.
an opening or opportunity
87.
a contest or tournament in which both amateurs and professionals may compete, esp.
in golf and tennis
88. See the open
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
openly adverb
openness
noun
Word origin
[bef. 900; (adj.) ME, OE; c. OS opan (D open), OHG offan (G offen), ON opinn, akin to up; (v.) ME openen, OE openian; c. OS opanon (D openen), OHG offanōn (G öffnen)]Examples of 'open' in a sentence
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In other languages
open
British English: open
/ˈəʊpn/ ADJECTIVE
You use open to describe something which has been opened.
...an open window.
- American English: open /ˈoʊpən/
- Arabic: مَفْتُوحٌ
- Brazilian Portuguese: aberto
- Chinese: 开着的
- Croatian: otvoren
- Czech: otevřený
- Danish: åben
- Dutch: open
- European Spanish: abierto
- Finnish: avoin
- French: ouvert
- German: offen Gegenstand
- Greek: ανοικτός
- Italian: aperto
- Japanese: 開いた
- Korean: 열린
- Norwegian: åpen
- Polish: otwarty
- European Portuguese: aberto
- Romanian: deschis
- Russian: открытый
- Latin American Spanish: abierto
- Swedish: öppen
- Thai: เปิดอยู่
- Turkish: açık kapı, pencere vb
- Ukrainian: відкритий
- Vietnamese: mở
British English: open
/ˈəʊpn/ VERB
make or be no longer closed When you open something, or when it opens, you move it or it moves so that it is no longer closed.
She opened the door.
- American English: open /ˈoʊpən/
- Arabic: يُفْتَحُ
- Brazilian Portuguese: abrir
- Chinese: 打开
- Croatian: otvoriti
- Czech: otevřít
- Danish: åbne
- Dutch: openen
- European Spanish: abrir
- Finnish: avata
- French: ouvrir
- German: öffnen
- Greek: ανοίγω
- Italian: aprire
- Japanese: 開ける
- Korean: (...을) 열다
- Norwegian: åpne
- Polish: otworzyć
- European Portuguese: abrir
- Romanian: a deschide
- Russian: открывать
- Latin American Spanish: abrir
- Swedish: öppna
- Thai: เปิด
- Turkish: açmak kapı vb
- Ukrainian: відкривати
- Vietnamese: mở
British English: open
/ˈəʊpn/ VERB
shop, office When a shop or office opens, people are able to go in.
The banks will open again on Monday morning.
- American English: open /ˈoʊpən/
- Arabic: يَفْتَحُ
- Brazilian Portuguese: abrir
- Chinese: 营业
- Croatian: otvoriti se
- Czech: otevíratobchod
- Danish: åbne
- Dutch: opengaan
- European Spanish: abrir
- Finnish: aueta
- French: ouvrir heure d'ouverture
- German: öffnen
- Greek: ανοίγω
- Italian: aprire
- Japanese: 開く
- Korean: 열다
- Norwegian: åpne
- Polish: otwierać
- European Portuguese: abrir
- Romanian: a fi deschis
- Russian: открываться
- Latin American Spanish: abrir
- Swedish: öppna
- Thai: เปิด
- Turkish: açılmak
- Ukrainian: відкриватися
- Vietnamese: mở cửa
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