not closed or barred at the time, as a doorway by a door, a window by a sash, or a gateway by a gate: to leave the windows open at night.
2.
(of a door, gate, window sash, or the like) set so as to permit passage through the opening it can be used to close.
3.
having no means of closing or barring: an open portico.
4.
having the interior immediately accessible, as a box with the lid raised or a drawer that is pulled out.
5.
relatively free of obstructions to sight, movement, or internal arrangement: an open floor plan.
6.
constructed so as to be without cover or enclosure on the top or on some or all sides: an open boat.
7.
having relatively large or numerous spaces, voids, or intervals: an open architectural screen; open ranks of soldiers.
8.
perforated or porous: an open texture.
9.
relatively unoccupied by buildings, fences, trees, etc.: open country.
10.
not covered or closed; with certain parts apart: open eyes; open mouth.
11.
without a covering, esp. a protective covering; unprotected; unenclosed; exposed: an open wound; open electrical wires.
12.
extended or unfolded: an open newspaper.
13.
without restrictions as to who may participate: an open competition; an open session.
14.
accessible or available to follow: the only course still open to us.
15.
not taken or filled; not preempted; available; vacant: Which job is open?
16.
ready for or carrying on normal trade or business: The new store is now open. The office is open on Saturdays.
17.
not engaged or committed: Have you any open time on Monday?
18.
accessible, as to appeals, ideas, or offers: to be open to suggestion.
19.
exposed to general view or knowledge; existing, carried on, etc., without concealment: open disregard of the rules.
20.
acting publicly or without concealment, as a person.
21.
unreserved, candid, or frank, as persons or their speech, aspect, etc.: an open manner.
22.
generous, liberal, or bounteous: to give with an open hand.
23.
liable or subject: open to question; open to retaliation.
24.
undecided; unsettled: several open questions.
25.
without effective or enforced legal, commercial, or moral regulations: an open town.
26.
unguarded by an opponent: an open wide receiver.
27.
noting the part of the sea beyond headlands or enclosing areas of land: to sail on the open seas.
28.
free of ice, as a body of water or a seaport.
29.
free of navigational hazards: an open coast.
30.
(of a seaport) available for foreign trade; not closed by government regulations or by considerations of health.
31.
(of a microphone) in operation; live.
32.
(of a delimiting punctuation mark) occurring at the beginning of a group of words or characters that is set off, as from surrounding text: open parenthesis; open quotes. Compare close(def. 51).
33.
not yet balanced or adjusted, as an account.
34.
not constipated, as the bowels.
35.
Phonetics.
a.
(of a vowel) articulated with a relatively large opening above the tongue or with a relatively large oral aperture, as the vowel sound of cot compared with that in caught.
Linguistics. (of a class of items) readily admitting new members, as the class of nouns, verbs, or adjectives (opposed to closed).
37.
Printing.
a.
(of type) in outline form.
b.
widely spaced or leaded, as printed matter.
38.
Music.
a.
(of an organ pipe) not closed at the far end.
b.
(of a string) not stopped by a finger.
c.
(of a note) produced by such a pipe or string or, on a wind instrument, without the aid of a slide, key, etc.
39.
Mathematics.
a.
(of an interval) containing neither endpoint.
b.
(of a set) consisting of points having neighborhoods wholly contained in the set, as the set of points within a circle.
c.
(of a map from one topological space to another) having the property that the image of an open set is an open set.
40.
free from frost; mild or moderate: an open winter.
41.
Animal Husbandry. (of a female animal) not pregnant.
42.
Textiles. (of a fabric or weave) so loosely woven that spaces are visible between warp and filling yarns.
–verb (used with object)
43.
to move (a door, window sash, etc.) from a shut or closed position so as to admit of passage.
44.
to render (a doorway, gateway, window, etc.) unobstructed by moving a door, window sash, etc., away from it.
45.
to render the interior of (a box, drawer, etc.) readily accessible.
46.
to clear (a passage, channel, etc.) of obstructions.
47.
to clear (areas or passages in the body).
48.
to give access to; make accessible or available, as for use: to open a port for trade.
49.
to establish for business purposes or for public use: to open an office.
50.
to set in action, begin, start, or commence (sometimes fol. by up): to open a campaign.
51.
to uncover, lay bare, or expose to view.
52.
to expand, unfold, or spread out: to open a map.
53.
to make less compact, less closely spaced, or the like: to open ranks.
54.
to disclose, reveal, or divulge.
55.
to render accessible to knowledge, enlightenment, sympathy, etc.: to open one's mind.
56.
to cut, blast, or break into: to open a safe with nitro.
57.
to make or produce (an opening) by cutting or breaking, or by pushing aside or removing obstructions: to open a way through a crowd.
58.
to make an incision or opening in: to open a boil.
59.
Law.
a.
to recall or revoke (a judgment, decree, etc.) for the purpose of allowing further contest or delay.
b.
to make the first statement of (a case) to the court or jury.
60.
Cards. to begin a hand by making (the first bid), placing (the first bet), or playing (a given card or suit) as the lead.
61.
Nautical. to sail (a course) so that the apparent location of a distant fixed object changes with relation to a nearer fixed object (sometimes fol. by out).
–verb (used without object)
62.
to become open, as a door, building, box, or enclosure.
63.
to afford access: a door that opens into a garden.
64.
to have an opening, passage, or outlet: The room opens into a corridor.
65.
(of a building, theater, etc.) to open its doors to the public: The museum opens at one o'clock.
66.
to begin a session or term, as a school.
67.
to begin a season, series of performances, or tour, as a theatrical company: The play will open in Boston.
68.
to begin, start, or commence an activity: The game opened with the national anthem.
69.
to part, or seem to part, so as to allow or reveal a passage: At last the cliffs opened to show us that we were heading for the sea.
70.
to become disclosed or revealed.
71.
to come into view; become more visible or plain.
72.
to become receptive to knowledge, sympathy, etc., as the mind.
73.
to disclose or reveal one's knowledge, thoughts, feelings, etc.
74.
to unfold or expand, as a blossom, so as to reveal the interior.
75.
to spread out or expand, as the hand or a fan.
76.
to spread apart or separate, as pages of a book, newspaper, etc.: Open to page 32.
77.
to spread or come apart; burst: The wound opened.
78.
to become less compact, less closely spaced, or the like: The ranks began to open.
79.
Cards. to make the first bet, bid, or lead in beginning a hand.
80.
Hunting. (of hounds) to begin to bark, as on the scent of game.
–noun
81.
an open or clear space.
82.
the open air.
83.
the open water, as of the sea.
84.
an opening or aperture.
85.
an opening or opportunity.
86.
a contest or tournament in which both amateurs and professionals may compete, esp. in golf and tennis.
87.
the open,
a.
the unenclosed or unobstructed country.
b.
the outdoors: Vacations in the open are fine for the entire family.
c.
the condition of being unconcealed, recognized, or publicly known: The scandal is now out in the open.
—Verb phrase
88.
open up,
a.
to become or make open.
b.
to expand, esp. before the eye: A breathtaking panorama opened up as we reached the top of the hill.
c.
to achieve the initial development of: to open up a business office; to open up trade with China.
d.
Slang. to increase speed or the speed of (a vehicle).
Origin: bef. 900; (adj.) ME, OE; c. OS opan (D open), OHG offan (G offen), ON opinn, akin to up; (v.) ME openen, OE openian; c. OS opanon (D openen), OHG offanōn (G öffnen)
Affording unobstructed entrance and exit; not shut or closed.
Affording unobstructed passage or view: open waters; the open countryside.
Having no protecting or concealing cover: an open wound; an open sports car.
Completely obvious; blatant: open disregard of the law.
Carried on in full view: open warfare; open family strife.
Sports Not closely defended by an opponent: an open receiver.
Not sealed or tied: an open package.
Spread out; unfolded: an open book.
Accessible to all; unrestricted as to participants: an open competition.
Free from limitations, boundaries, or restrictions: open registration.
Enterable by registered voters regardless of political affiliation: an open primary.
Computer Science Of or relating to a file that can be accessed.
Lacking effective regulation: an open town in which gambling predominated.
Not legally repressed: open drug trafficking.
Susceptible; vulnerable: open to interpretation; an issue that is open to question.
Willing to consider or deal with something: open to suggestions.
Available; obtainable: The job is still open.
Available for use: an open account; the only course open to us.
Characterized by lack of pretense or reserve; candid: Please be open with me. See Synonyms at frank1.
Free of prejudice; receptive to new ideas and arguments: She listened to the proposal with an open mind.
Generous: He is very open with his time.
Widely spaced or leaded. Used of typeset or other printed matter.
Having constituent elements separated by a space in writing or printing: The word sea horse is an open compound.
Not stopped by a finger. Used of a string or hole of an instrument.
Produced by an unstopped string or hole or without the use of slides, valves, or keys: an open note on a trumpet.
Played without a mute: an open wind instrument.
Articulated with the tongue in a low position, as the vowel in far.
Ending in a vowel or diphthong: an open syllable.
Of or relating to an interval containing neither of its endpoints.
Of or being a set such that at least one neighborhood of every point in the set is within the set.
Of or being a set that is the complement of a closed set.
Having the forward foot farther from the intended point of impact with the ball than the rear foot: an open batting stance.
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.
Having no protecting or concealing cover: an open wound; an open sports car.
Completely obvious; blatant: open disregard of the law.
Carried on in full view: open warfare; open family strife.
Sports Not closely defended by an opponent: an open receiver.
Not sealed or tied: an open package.
Spread out; unfolded: an open book.
Accessible to all; unrestricted as to participants: an open competition.
Free from limitations, boundaries, or restrictions: open registration.
Enterable by registered voters regardless of political affiliation: an open primary.
Computer Science Of or relating to a file that can be accessed.
Lacking effective regulation: an open town in which gambling predominated.
Not legally repressed: open drug trafficking.
Susceptible; vulnerable: open to interpretation; an issue that is open to question.
Willing to consider or deal with something: open to suggestions.
Available; obtainable: The job is still open.
Available for use: an open account; the only course open to us.
Characterized by lack of pretense or reserve; candid: Please be open with me. See Synonyms at frank1.
Free of prejudice; receptive to new ideas and arguments: She listened to the proposal with an open mind.
Generous: He is very open with his time.
Widely spaced or leaded. Used of typeset or other printed matter.
Having constituent elements separated by a space in writing or printing: The word sea horse is an open compound.
Not stopped by a finger. Used of a string or hole of an instrument.
Produced by an unstopped string or hole or without the use of slides, valves, or keys: an open note on a trumpet.
Played without a mute: an open wind instrument.
Articulated with the tongue in a low position, as the vowel in far.
Ending in a vowel or diphthong: an open syllable.
Of or relating to an interval containing neither of its endpoints.
Of or being a set such that at least one neighborhood of every point in the set is within the set.
Of or being a set that is the complement of a closed set.
Having the forward foot farther from the intended point of impact with the ball than the rear foot: an open batting stance.
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.
Not sealed or tied: an open package.
Spread out; unfolded: an open book.
Accessible to all; unrestricted as to participants: an open competition.
Free from limitations, boundaries, or restrictions: open registration.
Enterable by registered voters regardless of political affiliation: an open primary.
Computer Science Of or relating to a file that can be accessed.
Lacking effective regulation: an open town in which gambling predominated.
Not legally repressed: open drug trafficking.
Susceptible; vulnerable: open to interpretation; an issue that is open to question.
Willing to consider or deal with something: open to suggestions.
Available; obtainable: The job is still open.
Available for use: an open account; the only course open to us.
Characterized by lack of pretense or reserve; candid: Please be open with me. See Synonyms at frank1.
Free of prejudice; receptive to new ideas and arguments: She listened to the proposal with an open mind.
Generous: He is very open with his time.
Widely spaced or leaded. Used of typeset or other printed matter.
Having constituent elements separated by a space in writing or printing: The word sea horse is an open compound.
Not stopped by a finger. Used of a string or hole of an instrument.
Produced by an unstopped string or hole or without the use of slides, valves, or keys: an open note on a trumpet.
Played without a mute: an open wind instrument.
Articulated with the tongue in a low position, as the vowel in far.
Ending in a vowel or diphthong: an open syllable.
Of or relating to an interval containing neither of its endpoints.
Of or being a set such that at least one neighborhood of every point in the set is within the set.
Of or being a set that is the complement of a closed set.
Having the forward foot farther from the intended point of impact with the ball than the rear foot: an open batting stance.
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.
Having interspersed gaps, spaces, or intervals: open ranks; an open weave.
Accessible to all; unrestricted as to participants: an open competition.
Free from limitations, boundaries, or restrictions: open registration.
Enterable by registered voters regardless of political affiliation: an open primary.
Computer Science Of or relating to a file that can be accessed.
Lacking effective regulation: an open town in which gambling predominated.
Not legally repressed: open drug trafficking.
Susceptible; vulnerable: open to interpretation; an issue that is open to question.
Willing to consider or deal with something: open to suggestions.
Available; obtainable: The job is still open.
Available for use: an open account; the only course open to us.
Characterized by lack of pretense or reserve; candid: Please be open with me. See Synonyms at frank1.
Free of prejudice; receptive to new ideas and arguments: She listened to the proposal with an open mind.
Generous: He is very open with his time.
Widely spaced or leaded. Used of typeset or other printed matter.
Having constituent elements separated by a space in writing or printing: The word sea horse is an open compound.
Not stopped by a finger. Used of a string or hole of an instrument.
Produced by an unstopped string or hole or without the use of slides, valves, or keys: an open note on a trumpet.
Played without a mute: an open wind instrument.
Articulated with the tongue in a low position, as the vowel in far.
Ending in a vowel or diphthong: an open syllable.
Of or relating to an interval containing neither of its endpoints.
Of or being a set such that at least one neighborhood of every point in the set is within the set.
Of or being a set that is the complement of a closed set.
Having the forward foot farther from the intended point of impact with the ball than the rear foot: an open batting stance.
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.
Lacking effective regulation: an open town in which gambling predominated.
Not legally repressed: open drug trafficking.
Susceptible; vulnerable: open to interpretation; an issue that is open to question.
Willing to consider or deal with something: open to suggestions.
Available; obtainable: The job is still open.
Available for use: an open account; the only course open to us.
Characterized by lack of pretense or reserve; candid: Please be open with me. See Synonyms at frank1.
Free of prejudice; receptive to new ideas and arguments: She listened to the proposal with an open mind.
Generous: He is very open with his time.
Widely spaced or leaded. Used of typeset or other printed matter.
Having constituent elements separated by a space in writing or printing: The word sea horse is an open compound.
Not stopped by a finger. Used of a string or hole of an instrument.
Produced by an unstopped string or hole or without the use of slides, valves, or keys: an open note on a trumpet.
Played without a mute: an open wind instrument.
Articulated with the tongue in a low position, as the vowel in far.
Ending in a vowel or diphthong: an open syllable.
Of or relating to an interval containing neither of its endpoints.
Of or being a set such that at least one neighborhood of every point in the set is within the set.
Of or being a set that is the complement of a closed set.
Having the forward foot farther from the intended point of impact with the ball than the rear foot: an open batting stance.
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.
Susceptible; vulnerable: open to interpretation; an issue that is open to question.
Willing to consider or deal with something: open to suggestions.
Available; obtainable: The job is still open.
Available for use: an open account; the only course open to us.
Characterized by lack of pretense or reserve; candid: Please be open with me. See Synonyms at frank1.
Free of prejudice; receptive to new ideas and arguments: She listened to the proposal with an open mind.
Generous: He is very open with his time.
Widely spaced or leaded. Used of typeset or other printed matter.
Having constituent elements separated by a space in writing or printing: The word sea horse is an open compound.
Not stopped by a finger. Used of a string or hole of an instrument.
Produced by an unstopped string or hole or without the use of slides, valves, or keys: an open note on a trumpet.
Played without a mute: an open wind instrument.
Articulated with the tongue in a low position, as the vowel in far.
Ending in a vowel or diphthong: an open syllable.
Of or relating to an interval containing neither of its endpoints.
Of or being a set such that at least one neighborhood of every point in the set is within the set.
Of or being a set that is the complement of a closed set.
Having the forward foot farther from the intended point of impact with the ball than the rear foot: an open batting stance.
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.
Available; obtainable: The job is still open.
Available for use: an open account; the only course open to us.
Characterized by lack of pretense or reserve; candid: Please be open with me. See Synonyms at frank1.
Free of prejudice; receptive to new ideas and arguments: She listened to the proposal with an open mind.
Generous: He is very open with his time.
Widely spaced or leaded. Used of typeset or other printed matter.
Having constituent elements separated by a space in writing or printing: The word sea horse is an open compound.
Not stopped by a finger. Used of a string or hole of an instrument.
Produced by an unstopped string or hole or without the use of slides, valves, or keys: an open note on a trumpet.
Played without a mute: an open wind instrument.
Articulated with the tongue in a low position, as the vowel in far.
Ending in a vowel or diphthong: an open syllable.
Of or relating to an interval containing neither of its endpoints.
Of or being a set such that at least one neighborhood of every point in the set is within the set.
Of or being a set that is the complement of a closed set.
Having the forward foot farther from the intended point of impact with the ball than the rear foot: an open batting stance.
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.
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.
Characterized by lack of pretense or reserve; candid: Please be open with me. See Synonyms at frank1.
Free of prejudice; receptive to new ideas and arguments: She listened to the proposal with an open mind.
Generous: He is very open with his time.
Widely spaced or leaded. Used of typeset or other printed matter.
Having constituent elements separated by a space in writing or printing: The word sea horse is an open compound.
Not stopped by a finger. Used of a string or hole of an instrument.
Produced by an unstopped string or hole or without the use of slides, valves, or keys: an open note on a trumpet.
Played without a mute: an open wind instrument.
Articulated with the tongue in a low position, as the vowel in far.
Ending in a vowel or diphthong: an open syllable.
Of or relating to an interval containing neither of its endpoints.
Of or being a set such that at least one neighborhood of every point in the set is within the set.
Of or being a set that is the complement of a closed set.
Having the forward foot farther from the intended point of impact with the ball than the rear foot: an open batting stance.
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.
Printing
Widely spaced or leaded. Used of typeset or other printed matter.
Having constituent elements separated by a space in writing or printing: The word sea horse is an open compound.
Not stopped by a finger. Used of a string or hole of an instrument.
Produced by an unstopped string or hole or without the use of slides, valves, or keys: an open note on a trumpet.
Played without a mute: an open wind instrument.
Articulated with the tongue in a low position, as the vowel in far.
Ending in a vowel or diphthong: an open syllable.
Of or relating to an interval containing neither of its endpoints.
Of or being a set such that at least one neighborhood of every point in the set is within the set.
Of or being a set that is the complement of a closed set.
Having the forward foot farther from the intended point of impact with the ball than the rear foot: an open batting stance.
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.
Music
Not stopped by a finger. Used of a string or hole of an instrument.
Produced by an unstopped string or hole or without the use of slides, valves, or keys: an open note on a trumpet.
Played without a mute: an open wind instrument.
Articulated with the tongue in a low position, as the vowel in far.
Ending in a vowel or diphthong: an open syllable.
Of or relating to an interval containing neither of its endpoints.
Of or being a set such that at least one neighborhood of every point in the set is within the set.
Of or being a set that is the complement of a closed set.
Having the forward foot farther from the intended point of impact with the ball than the rear foot: an open batting stance.
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.
Linguistics
Articulated with the tongue in a low position, as the vowel in far.
Ending in a vowel or diphthong: an open syllable.
Of or relating to an interval containing neither of its endpoints.
Of or being a set such that at least one neighborhood of every point in the set is within the set.
Of or being a set that is the complement of a closed set.
Having the forward foot farther from the intended point of impact with the ball than the rear foot: an open batting stance.
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.
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
Of or relating to an interval containing neither of its endpoints.
Of or being a set such that at least one neighborhood of every point in the set is within the set.
Of or being a set that is the complement of a closed set.
Having the forward foot farther from the intended point of impact with the ball than the rear foot: an open batting stance.
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.
Sports
Having the forward foot farther from the intended point of impact with the ball than the rear foot: an open batting stance.
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.
Physics Of or relating to a model of the universe in which there is not sufficient matter to halt its expansion.
v.
o·pened, o·pen·ing, o·pens
v.
tr.
To release from a closed or fastened position.
To remove obstructions from; clear.
To make or force an opening in: open an old wound.
To form spaces or gaps between: soldiers opening ranks.
To break the continuity of; make a gap in: open a circuit.
To remove the cover, cork, or lid from.
To remove the wrapping from; undo.
To get (something) going; initiate: open a campaign.
To commence the operation of: open a new business.
To remove the cover, cork, or lid from.
To remove the wrapping from; undo.
To get (something) going; initiate: open a campaign.
To commence the operation of: open a new business.
To unfold so that the inner parts are displayed; spread out: open a newspaper.
To get (something) going; initiate: open a campaign.
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.
v.
intr.
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.
To begin; commence: The meeting opened with a call to order.
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.
n.
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(s): open up
To spread out; unfold: A green valley opened up before us.
To begin operation: The new store opens up next month.
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.
Idiom(s):
open fireTo begin firing on.
Idiom(s):
open (one's) eyesTo become aware of the truth of a situation.
[Middle English, from Old English; see upo in Indo-European roots.] o'pen·ly adv., o'pen·ness n.
O.E. open "not closed down, raised up" (of doors, gates, etc.), also "uncovered, bare; plain, evident," from P.Gmc. *upana (cf. O.N. opinn, Swed. öppen, Dan. aaben, O.Fris. epen, O.H.G. offan "open"), from PIE *upo "up from under, over" (cf. L. sub, Gk. hypo). Related to up, and throughout Gmc. the word has the appearance of a pp. of *up (v.), but no such verb has been found. The source of words for "open" in many I.E. languages seems to be an opposite of the word for "closed, shut" (e.g. Goth. uslukan). Of shops, etc., "available for business," it dates from 1824. Transf. sense of "candid" is attested from 1513. The verb was O.E. openian, but etymology suggests the adj. was older. Open up "cease to be secretive" is from 1921. The noun meaning "public knowledge" (esp. in out in the open) is attested from 1942; the sense of "an open competition" is from 1926, originally in a golf context. Open-handed "liberal, generous" is from 1601. Open door in ref. to international trading policies is attested from 1856. Open season is first recorded 1896, of game; and figuratively 1914 of persons. Open book in the fig. sense of "person easy to understand" is from 1853. Open house "hospitality for all visitors" is first recorded 1824. Open-and-shut "simple, straightforward" first recorded 1841 in New Orleans. Open marriage, one in which the partners sleep with whomever they please, is from 1972. Open-minded (1828) is first recorded in Carlyle. Open road (1817, Amer.Eng.) originally meant a public one; romanticized sense of "traveling as an expression of personal freedom" first recorded 1856, in Whitman.
Main Entry: open Function: verb Inflected Forms: opened; open·ing transitive verb 1: to begin the process of <open the succession> 2 a: to make the statement by which the trial of (a case) is begun and put before the court b: to be the first to speak in summing up or arguing (a case) 3: to restore or recall (as an order, rule, or judgment) from a finally determined state to a state in which the parties are free to prosecute or oppose by further proceedings intransitive verb 1: to begin action : commence on some course or activity opened at par> 2: to begin the trial of a case opens —J. H. Friedenthal et al.>
Main Entry: 2open Function: verb Inflected Forms: opened; open·ing transitive senses 1 a: to make available forentry or passage by removing (as a cover) or clearing away (as an obstruction) b: to free (a body passage) of an occluding agent open the bowels>opening congested nasal passages> 2: to make one or more openings in <opened the boil> openintransitivesenses : to spread out opened>
[oh-puh
n] 
