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Open describes someone or something which is not closed, not enclosed or not sealed. (adjective)

An example of an open business is one that is accepting customers.
An example of an open container is a container with the lid off.

See open in Webster's New World College Dictionary

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
unsealed; unwrapped
1. not covered over; without covering, top, etc.
2. vulnerable to attack, etc.; unprotected or undefended
spread out; unfolded; unclosed; expanded: an open book
having spaces between; having gaps, holes, interstices, etc.: open ranks
free from ice: the lake is open
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.
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
characterized by social mobility, political freedom, diversity of opinion, etc.: an open society
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
not closed against access; accessible; available
not hidden or secret; generally known; public: an open quarrel
frank; candid; direct; honest: an open manner
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
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
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
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
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

transitive verb

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.)
to make spaces between; spread out; expand: to open ranks
to unclose, unfold, or unroll: to open a book
to make accessible or subject (to an influence or action); expose
to make available for use, competition, or participation, without restriction, taxation, fee, etc.
to free from prejudice and bigotry; make liberal and generous: to open one's mind
to make known, public, etc.; reveal; disclose
to begin; enter upon; start; commence: to open the bidding, a session, etc.
to cause to start operating, going, etc.: to open a new shop
to undo, recall, or set aside (a judgment, settlement, etc.), so as to leave the matter open to further action

intransitive verb

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

noun

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

Related Forms:

opened adjective
openly adverb
openness noun

See open in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(ōˈpən)

adjective

a. Affording unobstructed entrance and exit; not shut or closed.
b. Affording unobstructed passage or view: open waters; the open countryside.
a. Having no protecting or concealing cover: an open wound; an open sports car.
b. Completely obvious; blatant: open disregard of the law.
c. Carried on in full view: open warfare; open family strife.
d. Sports Not closely defended by an opponent: an open receiver.
a. Not sealed or tied: an open package.
b. Spread out; unfolded: an open book.
Having interspersed gaps, spaces, or intervals: open ranks; an open weave.
a. Accessible to all; unrestricted as to participants: an open competition.
b. Free from limitations, boundaries, or restrictions: open registration.
c. Enterable by registered voters regardless of political affiliation: an open primary.
d. Computer Science Of or relating to a file that can be accessed.
a. Lacking effective regulation: an open town in which gambling predominated.
b. Not legally repressed: open drug trafficking.
a. Susceptible; vulnerable: open to interpretation; an issue that is open to question.
b. Willing to consider or deal with something: open to suggestions.
a. Available; obtainable: The job is still open.
b. Available for use: an open account; the only course open to us.
Ready to transact business: The store is open.
Not engaged or filled: has an open hour for emergency cases.
Not yet decided; subject to further thought: an open question.
a. Characterized by lack of pretense or reserve; candid: Please be open with me. See Synonyms at frank¹.
b. Free of prejudice; receptive to new ideas and arguments: She listened to the proposal with an open mind.
c. Generous: He is very open with his time.
Printing
a. Widely spaced or leaded. Used of typeset or other printed matter.
b. Having constituent elements separated by a space in writing or printing: The word sea horse is an open compound.
Music
a. Not stopped by a finger. Used of a string or hole of an instrument.
b. Produced by an unstopped string or hole or without the use of slides, valves, or keys: an open note on a trumpet.
c. Played without a mute: an open wind instrument.
Linguistics
a. Articulated with the tongue in a low position, as the vowel in far.
b. Ending in a vowel or diphthong: an open syllable.
Designating a method of punctuation in which commas and other marks are used sparingly.
Being in operation; live: an open microphone.
New England Clear. Used of weather. See Regional Note at fair¹.
Electricity Containing a gap across which electricity cannot pass: an open circuit.
Mathematics
a. Of or relating to an interval containing neither of its endpoints.
b. Of or being a set such that at least one neighborhood of every point in the set is within the set.
c. Of or being a set that is the complement of a closed set.
21. Sports
a. Having the forward foot farther from the intended point of impact with the ball than the rear foot: an open batting stance.
b. Held or swung with the top or outer edge of the striking face pointing slightly farther away from the objective than the lower or inner edge: The club struck the ball with an open face, causing a slice.
22. Physics Of or relating to a model of the universe in which there is not sufficient matter to halt its expansion.

verb o·pened, o·pen·ing, o·pens

verb, transitive

To release from a closed or fastened position.
To remove obstructions from; clear.
To make or force an opening in: open an old wound.
a. To form spaces or gaps between: soldiers opening ranks.
b. To break the continuity of; make a gap in: open a circuit.
a. To remove the cover, cork, or lid from.
b. To remove the wrapping from; undo.
To unfold so that the inner parts are displayed; spread out: open a newspaper.
a. To get (something) going; initiate: open a campaign.
b. To commence the operation of: open a new business.
Games To begin (the action in a game of cards) by making the first bid, placing the first bet, or playing the first lead.
To make available for use: opened the area to commercial development; opened the computer file and retrieved some data.
To make more responsive or understanding.
To reveal the secrets of; bare.
Sports To modify (one's stance), as in baseball or golf, so that it is open.
Law To recall (an order or judgment) for a reexamination of its merits.

verb, intransitive

To become open: The door opened slowly.
To draw apart; separate: The wound opened under pressure.
To spread apart; unfold.
To come into view; become revealed: The plain opened before us.
To become receptive or understanding.
a. To begin; commence: The meeting opened with a call to order.
b. To begin business or operation: The store opens early on Saturday.
To be performed, shown, or made available to the public for the first time: The play opens next week.
To be priced or listed at a specified amount when trading begins: Shares opened high and fell sharply.
Games To make a bid, bet, or lead in starting a game of cards.
To give access: The room opens onto a terrace.

noun

An unobstructed area of land or water.
The outdoors: camping in the open.
An undisguised or unconcealed state: brought the problem out into the open.
A tournament or contest in which both professional and amateur players may participate.

Phrasal Verb: open up To spread out; unfold: A green valley opened up before us.

a. To begin operation: The new store opens up next month.

b. To begin firing: The artillery opened up at dawn.

Informal To speak freely and candidly: At last the frightened witness opened up and told the truth. To make an opening in by cutting: The surgeon opened up the patient's chest. To make available or accessible: open up new markets. Informal To accelerate. Used of a motor vehicle.

Related Forms:

oˈpen·ly adverb

oˈpen·ness noun

Learn more about open

» open synonyms

» OPEN abbreviations & acronyms

» open computer definition

» open legal definition

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