in a state which permits access, entrance, or exit; not closed, covered, clogged, or shut: open doors
closed, but unlocked: the car is open
in a state which permits freedom of view or passage; not enclosed, fenced in, sheltered, screened, etc.; unobstructed; clear: open fields
having few or no trees, houses, etc.: open country
unsealed; unwrapped
not covered over; without covering, top, etc.
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
that may be entered, used, competed in, shared, visited, etc. by all: an open meeting
ready to admitcustomers, clients, etc.
free to be argued or contested; not settled or decided: an open question
free from prejudice or bigotry; not closed to new ideas, etc.: an open mind
liberal; generous
☆ free from legal restrictions: an open season on deer
☆ free from discriminatory restrictions based on race, religion, etc.: open housing
☆ free from effective regulation with respect to drinking, gambling, etc.: the city is wide open
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
not already taken, occupied, or engaged: the job is still open
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
not stopped by the finger: said of a string
not closed at the top: said of an organ pipe
produced by an open string or pipe, or, in wind instruments, brasses, etc., without a slide or key: said of a tone
not muted
Phonet.
articulated with the tongue as low as possible in the mouth; low: said of certain vowels
articulated with the tongue in the lower of two possible positions: the open e and close e in Italian
articulated with the organs of speech not in close contact; fricative: said of certain consonants
ending in a vowel or diphthong: said of a syllable
Printing
designating or of a style of type the letters of which are cast in outline so that the inside of letters shows white
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.,
to unclose; unfasten: open the door
to remove obstructions from: to open a drain
to make an opening or openings in: to open an abscess
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