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- Dictionaryopen/ˈəʊp(ə)n/
adjective
- 1. allowing access, passage, or a view through an empty space; not closed or blocked: "he climbed through the open window" Similar not shutnot closedunlockedunboltedunlatchedoff the latchunfastenedunbarredunsecuredajarwide openagapegapingyawningOpposite shutclosed
- ▪ (of a container) not fastened or sealed: "the case burst open and its contents flew all over the place"
- ▪ (of a garment or its fastenings) not done up: "his tie was knotted below the open collar of his shirt" Similar unfastenednot done upundoneunbuttonedunzippedlooseunbuckleduntiedunlaced
- ▪ (of the mouth or eyes) with lips or lids parted: "his eyes were open but he could see nothing"
- ▪ (of a fabric) loosely knitted or woven.
- ▪ (of the bowels) not constipated.
- 2. exposed to the air or to view; not covered: "an open fire burned in the grate"
- ▪ (of land) not covered with buildings or trees: "the plans allow increasing numbers of new houses in open countryside" Similar unenclosedrollingsweepingextensivewidewide openbroadunfencedexposedunshelteredspaciousairyuncrowdedunclutteredundevelopedunbuilt-upOpposite enclosedbuilt-updeveloped
- ▪ damaged by a deep cut in the surface: "he had his arm slashed open"
- ▪ likely to suffer from or be affected by; vulnerable or subject to: "the system is open to abuse"
- ▪ (of a goalmouth or other object of attack in a game) unprotected by defenders.
- ▪ (of a town or city) officially declared to be undefended, and so immune under international law from bombardment.
- 3. with the outer edges or sides drawn away from each other; unfolded or spread out: "the trees had buds and a few open flowers" Similar spread outunfoldedunfurledunrolledstraightened outextendedstretched outOpposite closedput away
- ▪ (of a book or file) with the covers parted allowing it to be read: "she was copying verses from an open Bible"
- ▪ (of a hand) not clenched into a fist.
- 4. (of a business, place of entertainment, etc.) admitting customers or visitors; available for business: "the shop stays open until 9 p.m" Similar open for businessopen to the publicOpposite shutclosed
- ▪ (of a bank account) available for transactions: "I withdrew all my money except the minimum required to keep the account open"
- ▪ (of a phone line) ready to take calls: "our free advice line is open from 8.30 to 17.30"
- 5. freely available or accessible; unrestricted: "the service is open to all students" Similar availableaccessibleon handobtainableon offer
- ▪ (of an offer or opportunity) still available: "the offer is open while stocks last"
- ▪ with no restrictions on those allowed to participate: "open discussion meetings" Similar publicgeneralunrestrictednon-exclusiveaccessible to everyonenon-restrictiveOpposite private
- ▪ (of a victor) having won an open competition: "an Open champion"
- ▪ (of a ticket) not restricted as to day of travel: "I have an open ticket, so I can travel any day I like"
- ▪ (of a cheque) not crossed. British
- ▪ (of a set) not containing any of its limit points.
- 6. not concealing one's thoughts or feelings; frank and communicative: "she behaved in an open and cheerful manner" Similar frankcandidhonestforthrightdirectunreservedbluntplain-spokenoutspokenfree-spokendownrightnot afraid to call a spade a spadestraightforwardgenuinenaturalingenuousinnocentartlesstransparentguilelesssimplecommunicativeforthcominguninhibitedinformal:upfrontarchaic:roundOpposite secretivedeepdevious
- ▪ not concealed: "his eyes showed open admiration as they swept over her" Similar overtobviouspatentmanifestpalpableconspicuousplainundisguisedunconcealedunhiddenclearnoticeablevisibleapparentevidentblatantflagrantbarefacedbrazenOpposite concealed
- ▪ (of conflict) fully developed and unconcealed: "the dispute erupted into open war"
- ▪ welcoming public discussion, criticism, and inquiry: "the party's commitment to open government" Similar publicgeneralunrestrictednon-exclusiveaccessible to everyonenon-restrictiveOpposite private
- ▪ (of a game or style of play) characterized by action which is spread out over the field: "both sides played fast, open rugby to produce a high-scoring game"
- 7. (of a matter or decision) not finally settled; still admitting of debate: "students' choice of degree can be kept open until the second year" Similar unresolvednot yet settledyet to be settledundecidedunsettledup in the airopen to debateopen for discussionarguabledebatablemootOpposite decidedconcluded
- ▪ (of the mind) accessible to new ideas: "I'm keeping an open mind about my future" Similar impartialunbiasedunprejudicedobjectivedisinteresteduncommittednon-partisannon-discriminatoryneutraldispassionatedetachedOpposite biased
- ▪ receptive to: "the union was open to suggestions for improvements" Similar receptiveamenablewilling/ready/disposed to listenresponsive
- ▪ admitting of; making possible: "the message is open to different interpretations"
- 8. (of a string) allowed to vibrate along its whole length.
- ▪ (of a note) sounded from an open string or pipe.
- ▪ (of a pipe) unstopped at each end.
- 9. (of a vowel) produced with a relatively wide opening of the mouth and the tongue kept low.
- ▪ (of a syllable) ending in a vowel.
- 10. (of an electric circuit) having a break in the conducting path.
verb
- 1. move (a door or window) so as to leave a space allowing access and vision: "she opened the door and went in" Similar unfastenunlatchunlockunboltunbarunclickthrow wideOpposite closeshut
- ▪ (of a door or window) be moved to leave a space allowing access: "the door opened and a man came out"
- ▪ undo or remove the lid, cover, or fastening of (a container, package, letter, etc.) to get access to the contents: "he opened a bottle inexpertly, spilling some of the wine" Similar unwrapundountieunsealuncorkbroachcrack (open)
- ▪ part the lips or lids of (one's mouth or eye): "she opened her mouth to argue"
- ▪ (of the mouth or eyes) have the lips or lids parted: "her eyes slowly opened"
- ▪ come apart; lose or lack its protective covering: "old wounds opened and I bled a little bit"
- ▪ cause evacuation of (the bowels).
- 2. unfold or be unfolded; spread out: "the eagle opened its wings and circled up into the air" Similar spread outunfoldunfurlunrollstraighten outextendstretch outOpposite closefold up
- ▪ part the covers of (a book or file) to read it: "she opened her book at the prologue"
- ▪ (of a prospect) extend into view: "stop to marvel at the views that open out below"
- ▪ achieve a clear view of (a place) by sailing past a headland or other obstruction: "we shall open Torbay shortly"
- 3. make formally ready for customers, visitors, or business: "she raised £731 by opening her home and selling coffee and tea"
- ▪ be made ready for customers, visitors, or business: "the shops didn't open until 10"
- ▪ ceremonially declare (a building, road, etc.) to be completed and ready for use: "we will have to wait until a new bypass is opened before we can tackle the problem of congestion"
- 4. formally establish or begin (a new business or enterprise): "she began to teach and opened her own school"
- ▪ (of an event or a new business or enterprise) be formally established or started: "two new restaurants open this week" Similar start tradingopen for businessbe ready for customers/visitorsadmit customersbegin businessset up shopput up one's plateinformal:hang out one's shinglebeginstartinitiateset in motionlaunchget goingget under waystart/get/set the ball rollingget off the groundinaugurateinformal:kick offget the show on the roadformal:commenceOpposite endfinish
- ▪ take the action required to begin using: "they have the £10 necessary to open a savings account"
- 5. make (something) present, available, or accessible: "a civil war there has opened the possibility of a peace treaty with the Federation"
- 6. (of a piece of writing or music) begin: "the chapter opens with a discussion of Anglo-Irish relations"
- ▪ (of a counsel in a law court) make a preliminary statement in a case before calling witnesses: "Comyn opened for the plaintiff"
- ▪ another term for open the batting
- ▪ make (the first bid) in the auction: "West opened 2NT"
- 7. break the conducting path of (an electric circuit): "the switch opens the motor circuit"
- ▪ (of an electric circuit or device) suffer a break in its conducting path: "the problem was caused when a switch opened at the substation"
noun
- 1. outdoors, especially in an exposed or unprotected setting: "guests were sitting in the open on the terrace"
- ▪ not subject to concealment; made public: "we have never let our dislike for him come into the open"
- 2. a championship or competition with no restrictions on who may compete: "his victory in the 2003 Australian Open"
- 3. an accidental break in the conducting path for an electric current.
Word Origin Old Englishopen (adjective), openian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch open and German offen, from the root of the adverb up.
Derivatives
- 1. openable adjective
Scrabble Points: 6
O
1P
3E
1N
1
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