open
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1open
adjective \ˈō-pən, -pəm\open·er \ˈōp-nər, ˈō-pə-\ open·est \ˈōp-nəst, ˈō-pə-\
Definition of OPEN
1
: having no enclosing or confining barrier : accessible on all or nearly all sides <cattle grazing on an open range>
2
a (1) : being in a position or adjustment to permit passage : not shut or locked <an open door> (2) : having a barrier (as a door) so adjusted as to allow passage <the house was open> b : having the lips parted <stood there with his mouth wide open> c : not buttoned or zipped <an open shirt>
3
a : completely free from concealment : exposed to general view or knowledge <their hostilities eventually erupted with open war> b : exposed or vulnerable to attack or question : subject <open to doubt> c : being an operation or surgical procedure in which an incision is made such that the tissues are fully exposed
4
a : not covered with a top, roof, or lid <an open car> <her eyes were open> b : having no protective covering <open wiring> <an open wound>
5
: not restricted to a particular group or category of participants <open to the public> <open housing>: as a : enterable by both amateur and professional contestants <an open tournament> b : enterable by a registered voter regardless of political affiliation <an open primary>
6
: fit to be traveled over : presenting no obstacle to passage or view <the open road> <open country>
7
: having the parts or surfaces laid out in an expanded position : spread out : unfolded <an open book>
8
a (1) : low 13 (2) : formed with the tongue in a lower position <Italian has an open and a close e> b (1) : having clarity and resonance unimpaired by undue tension or constriction of the throat <an open vocal tone> (2) of a tone : produced by an open string or on a wind instrument by the lip without the use of slides, valves, or keys
9
a : available to follow or make use of <the only course open to us> b : not taken up with duties or engagements <keep an hour open on Friday> c : not finally decided : subject to further consideration <the salary is open> <an open question> d : available for a qualified applicant : vacant <the job is still open> e : remaining available for use or filling until canceled <an open order for more items> f : available for future purchase <these items are in open stock> g : available for breeding : not now pregnant <an open heifer> h : not proprietary : available to third party developers <open source code>
10
a : characterized by ready accessibility and usually generous attitude: as (1) : generous in giving (2) : willing to hear and consider or to accept and deal with : responsive (3) : free from reserve or pretense : frank b : accessible to the influx of new factors (as foreign goods) <an open market>
11
a : having openings, interruptions, or spaces <open mesh>: as (1) : being porous and friable <open soil> (2) : sparsely distributed : scattered <open population> (3) of a compound : having components separated by a space in writing or printing (as opaque projector) b : not made up of a continuous closed circuit of channels <the insect circulatory system is open>
12
a of an organ pipe : not stopped at the top b of a string on a musical instrument : not stopped by the finger
13
: being in operation <an open microphone>; especially : ready for business, patronage, or use <the store is open from 9 to 5> <the new highway will be open next week>
14
a (1) : characterized by lack of effective regulation of various commercial enterprises <an open town> (2) : not repressed by legal controls <open gambling> b : free from checking or hampering restraints <an open economy> c : relatively unguarded by opponents <passed to an open teammate>
15
: having been opened by a first ante, bet, or bid <the bidding is open>
16
of punctuation : characterized by sparing use especially of the comma
17
a : containing none of its endpoints <an open interval> b : being a set or composed of sets each point of which has a neighborhood all of whose points are contained in the set <the interior of a sphere is an open set>
18
a : being an incomplete electrical circuit b : not allowing the flow of electricity <an open switch>
19
of a universe : having insufficient mass to halt expansion gravitationally
— open adverb
— open·ly \ˈō-pən-lē\ adverb
— open·ness \-pə(n)-nəs\ noun
See Examples of OPEN
- The door suddenly swung open.
- You left the blinds wide open.
- The meat was roasted over an open fire.
- I was so tired that I couldn't keep my eyes open.
- Don't chew with your mouth open.
- staring with her eyes wide open
- There's already an open jar of pickles in the refrigerator.
- They kept the road open throughout the winter.
Origin of OPEN
Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German offan open, Old English ūp up
First Known Use: before 12th century
2open
verbopened \ˈō-pənd, ˈō-pəmd\ open·ing \ˈōp-niŋ, ˈō-pə-\
Definition of OPEN
transitive verb
1
a : to move (as a door) from a closed position b : to make available for entry or passage by turning back (as a barrier) or removing (as a cover or an obstruction)
2
a : to make available for or active in a regular function <open a new store> b : to make accessible for a particular purpose <opened new land for settlement> c : to initiate access to (a computer file) prior to use
3
4
a : to make an opening in <opened the boil> b : to loosen and make less compact <open the soil>
5
: to spread out : unfold <opened the book>
6
a : to enter upon : begin <opened the meeting> b : to commence action in a card game by making (a first bid), putting a first bet in (the pot), or playing (a card or suit) as first lead
7
: to restore or recall (as an order) from a finally determined state to a state in which the parties are free to prosecute or oppose
intransitive verb
1
: to become open <the office opened early>
2
a : to spread out : expand <the wound opened under the strain> b : to become disclosed <a beautiful vista opened before us>
3
: to become enlightened or responsive
4
: to give access <the rooms open onto a hall>
5
: speak out 2 <finally he opened freely on the subject>
6
a : to begin a course or activity b : to make a bet, bid, or lead in commencing a round or hand of a card game
7
: to provide the opening performance of a show before the main event
— open·abil·i·ty \ˌōp-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē, ˌō-pə-\ noun
— open·able \ˈōp-nə-bəl, ˈō-pə-\ adjective
Examples of OPEN
- This door is hard to open.
- “Open the door!” shouted the police officer.
- Would you mind if I opened a window?
- The car door opened and a beautiful woman stepped out.
- The door opened and closed so quietly that I didn't notice he had come in the room.
- This drawer is stuck. It just won't open!
- She comes home, turns on the TV, and starts opening her mail.
- She opened her eyes and smiled at me.
- I opened my umbrella and stepped out into the rain.
- “Open your mouth wide for me,” said the dentist.
First Known Use of OPEN
before 12th century
3open
nounDefinition of OPEN
1
: opening
2
3
: an open contest, competition, or tournament
4
: a public or unconcealed state or position
Examples of OPEN
- <a daguerreotype of a cowboy whose face is roughened from a hard life in the open>
First Known Use of OPEN
13th century
Related to OPEN
- Synonyms
- nature, open air, outdoors, out-of-doors, wild, wilderness
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