1. First or beginning
   "the memorable opening bars of Beethoven's Fifth"; "the play's opening scene"

1. An open or empty space in or between things
   "there was a small opening between the trees";
   - gap
    
2. An aperture or hole that opens into a bodily cavity
   "the opening into the aorta from the lower left chamber of the heart";
   - orifice, porta
    
3. A vacant or unobstructed space that is man-made
   "they left a small opening for the cat at the bottom of the door"
    
4. An entrance equipped with a hatch; especially a passageway between decks of a ship
   "The sailors descended through the opening to the lower deck";
   - hatchway, scuttle, hatch
    
5. The act of opening something
   "the ray of light revealed his cautious opening of the door"
    
6. Becoming open or being made open
   "the opening of his arms was the sign I was waiting for"
    
7. The first of a series of actions
   "The diplomat's opening move in the negotiations was to propose a ceasefire";
   - first step, initiative, opening move
    
8. A ceremony accompanying the start of some enterprise
   "The grand opening of the new shopping mall attracted thousands"
    
9. The first performance (as of a theatrical production)
   "the opening received good critical reviews";
   - opening night, curtain raising
    
10. The initial part of the introduction
    "the opening established the basic theme"
     
11. Opportunity especially for employment or promotion
    "there is an opening in the sales department"
     
12. A possible alternative
    "The new proposal created an opening for negotiations";
    - possibility, possible action
     
13. (chess) a recognized sequence of moves at the beginning of a game of chess
    "he memorized all the important chess openings";
    - chess opening

1. Cause to allow entrance or exit; allow entry after being shut
   "Mary opened the car door";
   - open up
    
2. Become open
   "The door opened"; "The flower opened up in the morning sun";
   - open up
    
3. Start to operate or function or cause to start operating or functioning
   "open a business"; "The new store will open up next week";
   - open up
    
4. Begin or set in action, of meetings, speeches, recitals, etc.
   "He opened the meeting with a long speech"
    
5. Spread out or open from a closed or folded state
   "open the map";
   - unfold, spread, spread out
    
6. Make available
   "This opens up new possibilities";
   - open up
    
7. Become available
   "an opportunity opened up";
   - open up
    
8. Provide entry or access to
   "The bedrooms open into the hall"
    
9. Display the contents of a file or start an application as on a computer
   "She opened the document on her laptop"; "He opened the web browser"
    
10. (chess) make the opening move
    "Kasparov opened with a standard opening"

Derived forms: openings

See also: beginning, first, inaugural, initiative, initiatory, introductory, maiden, pioneer, starting

Type of: afford, alter, alternative, arise, artefact [Brit], artifact [N. Amer], be, begin, beginning, ceremonial, ceremonial occasion, ceremony, chance, change, change of integrity, change state, choice, come up, commence, commencement, display, embark on, entrance, entranceway, entrée, entry, entryway, exhibit, exist, expose, get, get down, give, go, introduction, modify, motility, motion, move, movement, observance, opportunity, option, passage, passageway, sequence, set about, set out, space, start, start out, start up, succession, turn, undo, yield

Antonym: close, close up, closing, fold, shutting

Part of: Earth's surface, surface

Encyclopedia: Opening