open (opens 3rd person present) (opening present participle) (opened past tense & past participle )
1 verb If you open something such as a door, window, or lid, or if it opens, its position is changed so that it no longer covers a hole or gap., (Antonym: close, shut)
He opened the window and looked out... V n
The church doors would open and the crowd would surge out. V
Open is also an adjective., adj
...an open window..., A door had been forced open.
2 verb If you open something such as a bottle, box, parcel, or envelope, you move, remove, or cut part of it so you can take out what is inside.
The Inspector opened the packet of cigarettes... V n
The capsules are fiddly to open. V n
Open is also an adjective., adj
...an open bottle of milk..., I tore the letter open.
Open up means the same as open., phrasal verb
He opened up a cage and lifted out a 6ft python. V P n (not pron), Also V n P
3 verb If you open something such as a book, an umbrella, or your hand, or if it opens, the different parts of it move away from each other so that the inside of it can be seen.
He opened the heavy Bible... V n
The officer's mouth opened, showing white, even teeth. V
Open is also an adjective., adj
Without warning, Bardo smacked his fist into his open hand..., His mouth was a little open, as if he'd started to scream.
Open out means the same as open., phrasal verb
Keith took a map from the dashboard and opened it out on his knees. V n P
...oval tables which open out to become circular. V P, Also V P n (not pron)
4 verb If you open a computer file, you give the computer an instruction to display it on the screen. (COMPUTING)
Double click on the icon to open the file. V n
5 verb When you open your eyes or your eyes open, you move your eyelids upwards, for example when you wake up, so that you can see.
When I opened my eyes I saw a man with an axe standing at the end of my bed... V n
His eyes were opening wide. V
Open is also an adjective., adj
As soon as he saw that her eyes were open he sat up.
6 verb If you open your arms, you stretch them wide apart in front of you, usually in order to put them round someone.
She opened her arms and gave me a big hug. V n
7 adj If you describe a person or their character as open, you mean they are honest and do not want or try to hide anything or to deceive anyone.
He had always been open with her and she always felt she would know if he lied..., She has an open, trusting nature.
openness n-uncount
...a relationship based on honesty and openness.
8 adj If you describe a situation, attitude, or way of behaving as open, you mean it is not kept hidden or secret.
ADJ n
The action is an open violation of the Vienna Convention..., Hearing the case in open court is only one part of the judicial process.
openness n-uncount
...the new climate of political openness.
9 adj If you are open to suggestions or ideas, you are ready and willing to consider or accept them.
v-link ADJ to n
(=receptive)
They are open to suggestions on how working conditions might be improved.
10 adj If you say that a system, person, or idea is open to something such as abuse or criticism, you mean they might receive abuse or criticism because of their qualities, effects, or actions.
v-link ADJ to n
(=susceptible)
The system, though well-meaning, is open to abuse...
11 adj If you say that a fact or question is opento debate, interpretation, or discussion, you mean that people are uncertain whether it is true, what it means, or what the answer is.
oft v-link ADJ to n
It is an open question how long that commitment can last.
12 verb If people open something such as a blocked road or a border, or if it opens, people can then pass along it or through it., (Antonym: close)
The rebels have opened the road from Monrovia to the Ivory Coast... V n
The solid rank of police officers lining the courtroom opened to let them pass. V
Open is also an adjective., adj
We were part of an entire regiment that had nothing else to do but to keep that highway open.
Open up means the same as open., phrasal verb
As rescue workers opened up roads today, it became apparent that some small towns were totally devastated... V P n (not pron)
When the Berlin Wall came down it wasn't just the roads that opened up but the waterways too. V P, Also V n P
13 verb If a place opensinto another, larger place, you can move from one directly into the other.
The corridor opened into a low smoky room. V into/onto/to n
Open out means the same as open., phrasal verb
...narrow streets opening out into charming squares. V P into/onto/to n
14 adj An open area is a large area that does not have many buildings or trees in it.
usu ADJ n
Officers will also continue their search of nearby open ground.
15 adj An open structure or object is not covered or enclosed.
ADJ n
Don't leave a child alone in a room with an open fire., ...open sandwiches.
16 adj An open wound is one from which a liquid such as blood is coming.
usu ADJ n
17 verb If you open your shirt or coat, you undo the buttons or pull down the zip.
I opened my coat and let him see the belt. V n
Open is also an adjective., adj ADJ n, v-link ADJ
The top can be worn buttoned up or open over a T-shirt.
18 verb When a shop, office, or public building opens or is opened, its doors are unlocked and the public can go in.
Banks closed on Friday afternoon and did not open again until Monday morning. V
...a gang of three who'd apparently been lying in wait for him to open the shop. V n
...opening and closing times. V-ing
Open is also an adjective., adj
His shop is open Monday through Friday, 9am to 6pm.
19 verb When a public building, factory, or company opens or when someone opens it, it starts operating for the first time., (Antonym: close, shut)
The original station opened in 1754... V
The complex opens to the public tomorrow... V to n
They are planning to open a factory in Eastern Europe... V n
Open is also an adjective., adj v-link ADJ
...any operating subsidy required to keep the pits open.
opening (openings plural) n-count usu sing
He was there, though, for the official opening.
20 verb If something such as a meeting or series of talks opens, or if someone opens it, it begins.
...an emergency session of the Russian Parliament due to open later this morning... V
They are now ready to open negotiations. V n
opening n-sing the N of n
...a communique issued at the opening of the talks.
21 verb If an event such as a meeting or discussion openswith a particular activity or if a particular activity opens an event, that activity is the first thing that happens or is dealt with. You can also say that someone such as a speaker or singer opensby doing a particular thing.
(=begin) (Antonym: end)
The service opened with a hymn... V with n
I opened by saying, `Honey, you look sensational.'... V by -ing
Pollard opened the conversation with some small talk. V n with n, Also V n by -ing
22 verb On the stock exchange, the price at which currencies, shares, or commodities open is their value at the start of that day's trading. (BUSINESS, Antonym: close)
Gold declined $2 in Zurich to open at 385.50... V prep/adv
In Paris and Milan, the dollar opened almost unchanged. V adj
23 verb When a film, play, or other public event opens, it begins to be shown, be performed, or take place for a limited period of time.
A photographic exhibition opens at the Royal College of Art on Wednesday... V
opening n-sing the N of n
He is due to attend the opening of the Asian Games on Saturday.
24 verb If you open an account with a bank or a commercial organization, you begin to use their services.
He tried to open an account at the branch of his bank nearest to his workplace. V n
25 adj If an opportunity or choice is open to you, you are able to do a particular thing if you choose to.
v-link ADJ to n
There are a wide range of career opportunities open to young people.
26 verb To open opportunities or possibilities means the same as to open them up.
The chief of naval operations wants to open opportunities for women in the Navy... V n
A series of fortunate opportunities opened to him. V
27 adj You can use open to describe something that anyone is allowed to take part in or accept.
A recent open meeting of College members revealed widespread dissatisfaction..., A portfolio approach would keep entry into the managerial profession open and flexible., ...an open invitation.
28 adj If something such as an offer or job is open, it is available for someone to accept or apply for.
v-link ADJ
The offer will remain open until further notice.
→
opening 6
29 If you do something in the open, you do it out of doors rather than in a house or other building.
in the open phrase PHR after v
Many are sleeping in the open because they have no shelter.
30 If an attitude or situation is in the open or out in the open, people know about it and it is no longer kept secret.
in the open/out in the open phrase usu v-link PHR
The medical service had advised us to keep it a secret, but we wanted it in the open.
31 If something is wide open, it is open to its full extent.
wide open phrase PHR after v, v-link PHR
The child had left the inner door wide open.
32 If you say that a competition, race, or election is wide open, you mean that anyone could win it, because there is no competitor who seems to be much better than the others.
wide open phrase v-link PHR, PHR after v
The competition has been thrown wide open by the absence of the world champion.
33
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with open arms
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arm
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to open the door
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door
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to keep your eyes open
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eye
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with your eyes open
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eye
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to open your eyes
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eye
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to open fire
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fire
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to open your heart
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heart
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the heavens open
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heaven
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an open mind
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mind
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to open your mind
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mind
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to keep your options open
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option open out
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open 3, 13 open up
2 phrasal verb If a place, economy, or area of interest opens up, or if someone opens it up, more people can go there or become involved in it.
As the market opens up, I think people are going to be able to spend more money on consumer goods... V P
He said he wanted to see how Albania was opening up to the world... V P to n
These programmes will open up markets for farmers... V P n (not pron)
3 phrasal verb If something opens up opportunities or possibilities, or if they open up, they are created.
It was also felt that the collapse of the system opened up new possibilities... V P n (not pron)
New opportunities are opening up for investors who want a more direct stake in overseas companies. V P, Also V n P
4 phrasal verb If you open up a lead in a race or competition, you get yourself into a position where you are leading, usually by quite a long way.
The Chinese team had opened up a lead of more than two minutes. V P n (not pron)
5 phrasal verb When you open up a building, you unlock and open the door so that people can get in.
Three armed men were waiting when the postmaster and his wife arrived to open up the shop... V P n (not pron)
6 phrasal verb If someone opens up, they start to say exactly what they think or feel. Lorna found that people were willing to open up to her. V P to n
open-air , open air
1 adj An open-air place or event is outside rather than in a building.
usu ADJ n
(=outdoor)
...the Open Air Theatre in Regents Park., ...an open air concert in brilliant sunshine.
2 n-sing If you are in theopen air, you are outside rather than in a building.
the N, usu in the N
We sleep out under the stars, and eat our meals in the open air.
open-and-shut
If you describe a dispute or a legal case as open-and-shut, you mean that is easily decided or solved because the facts are very clear. adj usu ADJ n
It's an open and shut case. The hospital is at fault.
open day (open days plural )An open day is a day on which members of the public are encouraged to visit a particular school, university, or other institution to see what it is like.
(BRIT) n-count
in AM, use open house
open-door , open door
If a country or organization has an open-door policy towards people or goods, it allows them to come there freely, without any restrictions. adj ADJ n
...reformers who have advocated an open door economic policy.
Open door is also a noun., n-sing
...an open door to further foreign investment.
open-ended
When people begin an open-ended discussion or activity, they do not have a particular result, decision, or timespan in mind. adj usu ADJ n
Girls do better on open-ended tasks that require them to think for themselves., ...open-ended questions about what passengers expect of an airline.
open house
1 n-uncount If you say that someone keeps open house, you mean that they welcome friends or visitors to their house whenever they arrive and allow them to stay for as long as they want to.
Father Illtyd kept open house and the boys would congregate in his study during their recreation time, playing cards or games.
2 n-var An open house is a day on which members of the public are encouraged to visit a particular institution or place to see what it is like.
(AM) also N n
A week later, Sara and I attended open house at Ted's school...
in BRIT, use open day
open letter (open letters plural )An open letter is a letter that is published in a newspaper or magazine. It is addressed to a particular person but is intended for the general reader, usually in order to protest or give an opinion about something. n-count
The Lithuanian parliament also sent an open letter to the United Nations.
open market
Goods that are bought and sold on the open market are advertised and sold to anyone who wants to buy them. (BUSINESS) n-sing the N
The Central Bank is authorized to sell government bonds on the open market.
open-minded
If you describe someone as open-minded, you approve of them because they are willing to listen to and consider other people's ideas and suggestions. adj oft ADJ about n (approval)
He was very open-minded about other people's work.
open-mindedness n-uncount
He was praised for his enthusiasm and his open-mindedness.
open-mouthed
If someone is looking open-mouthed, they are staring at something with their mouth wide open because it has shocked, frightened, or excited them. adj usu ADJ after v, ADJ n
They watched almost open-mouthed as the two men came towards them..., The finale had 50,000 adults standing in open-mouthed wonderment.
open-necked , open-neck
If you are wearing an open-necked shirt or blouse, you are wearing a shirt or blouse which has no buttons at the top or on which the top button is not done up. adj ADJ n
open pit (open pits plural )An open pit is a mine where the coal, metal, or minerals are near the surface and underground passages are not needed.
(AM) n-count
(=strip mine)
in BRIT, use opencast mine
open-plan
An open-plan building, office, or room has no internal walls dividing it into smaller areas. adj
The firm's top managers share the same open-plan office.
open prison (open prisons plural )An open prison is a prison where there are fewer restrictions on prisoners than in a normal prison.
(BRIT) n-count oft in names
in AM, use minimum security prison
open question (open questions plural )If something is anopen question, people have different opinions about it and nobody can say which opinion is correct. n-count
A British official said he thought it was an open question whether sanctions would do any good.
open secret (open secrets plural )If you refer to something as anopen secret, you mean that it is supposed to be a secret, but many people know about it. n-count
It's an open secret that the security service bugged telephones.
open-top , open-topped
An open-top bus has no roof, so that the people sitting on the top level can see or be seen more easily. An open-top car has no roof or has a roof that can be removed. adj ADJ n
The team drove through the streets of Leeds city centre in an open-top bus.
Open University
In Britain, the Open University is a university that runs degree courses using the radio and television, for students who want to study part-time or mainly at home. n-proper the N
