open Hear it!

open Definition

open (ō′pən)

adjective

    1. in a state which permits access, entrance, or exit; not closed, covered, clogged, or shut open doors
    2. closed, but unlocked the car is open
    1. in a state which permits freedom of view or passage; not enclosed, fenced in, sheltered, screened, etc.; unobstructed; clear open fields
    2. having few or no trees, houses, etc. open country
  3. unsealed; unwrapped
    1. not covered over; without covering, top, etc.
    2. vulnerable to attack, etc.; unprotected or undefended
  5. spread out; unfolded; unclosed; expanded an open book
  6. having spaces between; having gaps, holes, interstices, etc. open ranks
  7. free from ice the lake is open
  8. having relatively little snow or frost; mild an open winter
    1. that may be entered, used, competed in, shared, visited, etc. by all an open meeting
    2. ready to admitcustomers, clients, etc.
  10. free to be argued or contested; not settled or decided an open question
    1. free from prejudice or bigotry; not closed to new ideas, etc. an open mind
    2. liberal; generous
    1. ☆ free from legal restrictions an open season on deer
    2. ☆ free from discriminatory restrictions based on race, religion, etc. open housing
    3. ☆ free from effective regulation with respect to drinking, gambling, etc. the city is wide open
    4. not regulated, organized, or conducted along traditional or conventional lines open marriage, open education
  13. characterized by social mobility, political freedom, diversity of opinion, etc. an open society
  14. in force or operation an open account
    1. not already taken, occupied, or engaged the job is still open
    2. 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. Math. 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
    1. not stopped by the finger: said of a string
    2. not closed at the top: said of an organ pipe
    3. produced by an open string or pipe, or, in wind instruments, brasses, etc., without a slide or key: said of a tone
    4. not muted
  21. Phonet.
    1. articulated with the tongue as low as possible in the mouth; low: said of certain vowels
    2. articulated with the tongue in the lower of two possible positions the open e and close e in Italian
    3. articulated with the organs of speech not in close contact; fricative: said of certain consonants
    4. ending in a vowel or diphthong: said of a syllable
  22. Printing
    1. designating or of a style of type the letters of which are cast in outline so that the inside of letters shows white
    2. with wide spacing between words or lines of type; not solid
  23. Sports designating a stance, as of a golfer or batter in baseball, in which the front foot is farther than the rear foot from an imaginary straight line, as one joining tee and green or one joining home plate and second base

Etymology: ME < OE, akin to Ger offen < PGmc *upana: for IE base see up

transitive verb

  1. to make or cause to be open; specif.,
    1. to unclose; unfasten open the door
    2. to remove obstructions from to open a drain
    1. to make an opening or openings in to open an abscess
    2. to make or produce (a hole, way, etc.)
  3. to make spaces between; spread out; expand to open ranks
  4. to unclose, unfold, or unroll to open a book
  5. to make accessible or subject (to an influence or action); expose
  6. to make available for use, competition, or participation, without restriction, taxation, fee, etc.
  7. to free from prejudice and bigotry; make liberal and generous to open one's mind
  8. to make known, public, etc.; reveal; disclose
  9. to begin; enter upon; start; commence to open the bidding, a session, etc.
  10. to cause to start operating, going, etc. to open a new shop
  11. to undo, recall, or set aside (a judgment, settlement, etc.), so as to leave the matter open to further action

intransitive verb

  1. to become open
  2. to spread out; expand; unroll; unfold
  3. to become free from prejudice, etc.; become liberal and generous
  4. to become revealed, disclosed, etc.; come into view
  5. to be or act as an opening; give access: with to, into, on, etc.
  6. to begin; start
  7. 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
  8. to begin a series of performances, games, etc.

noun

any of various tournaments, esp. in golf or tennis, open to both professionals and amateurs

open Related Forms
o′pened adjective o′pen·ly adverb o′pen·ness noun
open Idioms

open out

  1. to make or become extended or larger
  2. to develop
  3. to disclose to view; reveal

open to

  1. glad or willing to receive, discuss, etc.
  2. liable to; subject to
  3. available or accessible to or for

open up

  1. to make or become open
  2. to spread out; unfold
  3. to start; begin
  4. Informal to begin firing a gun or guns
  5. Informal to speak freely or with great feeling
  6. Informal to go or make go faster or as fast as possible

the open

  1. any open, unobstructed space on land or water
  2. an unenclosed area; the outdoors
  3. public knowledge
open Synonyms

open

modif.

  1. Not closed

    unclosed, accessible, clear, open to view, uncovered, disclosed, divulged, introduced, initiated, inaugurated, begun, full-blown, unfurled, susceptible, ajar, agape, gaping, yawning, wide, rent, torn, spacious, broad gauge, unshut, expansive, extensive, spread out, vistaed, revealed, unenclosed; see also senses 2, 4.

    Antonyms tight*, closed, shut.

  2. Not obstructed

    unlocked, unbarred, unbolted, unlatched, unblocked, unfastened, cleared, removed, made passable, unsealed, unobstructed, unoccupied, vacated, unburdened, emptied; see also sense 1.

    Antonyms taken*, barred, blocked.

  3. Not forbidden

    free, unrestricted, permitted, allowable, free of access, public, welcoming, not posted; see also admissible, permitted.

    Antonyms refused*, restricted, forbidden.

  4. Not protected

    unguarded, unsecluded, liable, exposed, out in the weather, uncovered, apart, fallen open, unshut, unroofed, insecure, unsafe, conspicuous, unhidden, unconcealed, subject, sensitive; see also sense 1, unsafe.

    Antonyms safe*, secluded, secure.

  5. Not decided

    in question, up for discussion, debatable; see controversial, questionable 1, uncertain 2.

  6. Not solid

    airy, fretted, fretworked, openworked, intersticed, filigree; see also penetrable.

    Antonyms firm*, solid, impenetrable.

  7. Frank

    plain, candid, straightforward; see frank.

  8. Obvious

    apparent, well-known, clear; see obvious 1. See syn. study at frank.

open Synonyms

open

v.

  1. To begin

    start, inaugurate, initiate; see begin 1, 2.

  2. To move aside a prepared obstruction

    unbar, unlock, unclose, clear, admit, turn back, reopen, open the lock, lift the latch, free, loosen, disengage, throw open, lay open, swing wide, unfasten, undo, unbolt, throw back the bolt, turn the key, turn the knob.

    Antonyms close*, shut, lock.

  3. To make an opening

    force an entrance, breach, make an aperture, cut in, tear down, push in, shatter, destroy, burst in, break open, cave in, burst out from, penetrate, cleave, pierce, force one's way into, smash, prick, punch a hole into, slit, puncture, crack, muscle in*, jimmy*; see also force 2, remove 1.

    Antonyms repair*, seal, mend.

  4. To make available

    make accessible, put on sale, put on view, open to the public, make public, put forward, free, make obtainable, make usable, prepare, present, make convenient, make ready.

    Antonyms remove*, put away, lock up.

  5. To begin business

    open for business, hang out one's shingle, receive business, go into business, set up shop, get to work.

  6. To expose to fuller view

    unroll, unfold, uncover; see expose 1, reveal 1.

open Law Definition

adj

  1. Free from concealment; readily viewable by the public; unobstructed.
  2. Apparent; notorious.
  3. Not closed, or final; still under consideration.
open Usage Examples

Object

  • door: All version of the worm also open a back door to the infected computers.
  • window: Double clicking on these icons will open a new window showing the contents of the directory.
  • account: To open an account you will have to complete an application form from your chosen bank or building society.
  • gate: However, until recently, First North Western staff opened the gates across the line to allow access for the infirm and disabled.

Preposition: on

  • Sunday: Late night shopping is on Thursdays until 7pm and many stores also open on Sundays.
  • weekday: Telephone lines are open on weekdays between 11am and 12 noon and between 2pm and 5pm ( 4.30 pm on Fridays ).

Modifies a noun

  • space: Horse Guard's Parade is London's largest open space constructed in 1745 to house the old palace guards.
  • fire: The Old Rectory Hotel, Warwick Our open log fire gives a warm welcome.
  • countryside: There is plenty of open countryside that very few people would mind being built on.
  • fireplace: The sitting area is around an open fireplace and has dining facilities as well.
  • mind: I believe everyone should live life to the full and have an open mind.
  • source: Linux customers are also free to take the open source Xen package and install it as they see fit.

Used with adjective complement

  • remain: While the Guardian quoted one industry insider as saying: " Lines of communication [ between EMI and Warners ] have remained open.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • up: Now the landing was opened up to the living space we could use it to feature some modern design elements.

Followed by a transitive particle

  • up: His solution " open up the audit door to all comers " Who would be the all comers.

Particle object:

  • possibility: A victory in France would open up the possibility of an alternative to all this.

Preposition: in

  • window: All links in blogs will open in a new browser window.

Preposition: from

  • 9am: Currently centers are open from 9am - 4pm, Monday to Friday.
  • 9.30am: The Abbey is open from 9.30am to 5pm every day.
  • a.m.: The learning resource room is open from 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. It is unstaffed and has a security code lock on the door.
open Quotes

   We are a democracy, and there is only one way to get a democracy on its feet in the matter of its individual, its social, its municipal, its State, its National conduct, and that is by keeping the public informed about what is going on.There isnot a crime, there isnot a dodge, there is not a trick, there is not a swindle, there is not a vice which does not live by secrecy.Get these things out in the open, describe them, attack them, ridicule them in the press, and sooner or later public opinion will sweep them away.

—Pulitzer,Joseph

Theoretical webs, dirty webs, fusty webs, old and shrivelling away into nothingness, a fine dust.Who needs that kind of stuff. Far far better getting out into the open air and doing it, actually doing it, something solid and concrete and unconceptualisable.

—Kelman,James

Close the playand keep the store open nights.

—Kaufman, George S(imon)

Never lay yourselfopentowhat iscalled conviction: you might as well open your waist-coat to receive a knock- down blow.

—Hunt, (James Henry) Leigh

Behold,I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

—Bible (NewTestament)

I am the L thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

—Bible (Old Testament)

What is the difference between burning and gassing people in ovens and doing it to a whole nation out in the open?

—Sihanouk, Prince Norodom