open

open [ō′pən]

adj.

[ME < OE, akin to Ger offen < PGmc * upana: for IE base see UP¹]

1.

a) in a state which permits access, entrance, or exit; not closed, covered, clogged, or shut [open doors]

b) closed, but unlocked [the car is open]

2.

a) in a state which permits freedom of view or passage; not enclosed, fenced in, sheltered, screened, etc.; unobstructed; clear [open fields]

b) having few or no trees, houses, etc. [open country]

3. unsealed; unwrapped

4.

a) not covered over; without covering, top, etc.

b) vulnerable to attack, etc.; unprotected or undefended: see also OPEN CITY

5. spread out; unfolded; unclosed; expanded [an open book]

6. having spaces between; having gaps, holes, interstices, etc. [open ranks]

7. free from ice [the lake is open]

8. having relatively little snow or frost; mild [an open winter]

9.

a) that may be entered, used, competed in, shared, visited, etc. by all [an open meeting]

b) ready to admitcustomers, clients, etc.

10. free to be argued or contested; not settled or decided [an open question]

11.

a) free from prejudice or bigotry; not closed to new ideas, etc. [an open mind]

b) liberal; generous

12.

☆ a) free from legal restrictions [an open season on deer ]

☆ b) free from discriminatory restrictions based on race, religion, etc. [open housing ]

☆ c) free from effective regulation with respect to drinking, gambling, etc. [the city is wide open]

d) not regulated, organized, or conducted along traditional or conventional lines [open marriage, open education]

13. characterized by social mobility, political freedom, diversity of opinion, etc. [an open society]

14. in force or operation [an open account]

15.

a) not already taken, occupied, or engaged [the job is still open]

b) free to be accepted or rejected

16. not closed against access; accessible; available

17. not hidden or secret; generally known; public [an open quarrel]

18. frank; candid; direct; honest [an open manner]

19. 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

20. Music

a) not stopped by the finger: said of a string

b) not closed at the top: said of an organ pipe

c) produced by an open string or pipe, or, in wind instruments, brasses, etc., without a slide or key: said of a tone

d) not muted

21. Phonet.

a) articulated with the tongue as low as possible in the mouth; low: said of certain vowels

b) articulated with the tongue in the lower of two possible positions [the open e and close e in Italian]

c) articulated with the organs of speech not in close contact; fricative: said of certain consonants

d) ending in a vowel or diphthong: said of a syllable

22. Printing

a) designating or of a style of type the letters of which are cast in outline so that the inside of letters shows white

b) with wide spacing between words or lines of type; not solid

23. 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

vt.

1. to make or cause to be open; specif.,

a) to unclose; unfasten [open the door]

b) to remove obstructions from [to open a drain]

2.

a) to make an opening or openings in [to open an abscess]

b) to make or produce (a hole, way, etc.)

3. to make spaces between; spread out; expand [to open ranks]

4. to unclose, unfold, or unroll [to open a book]

5. to make accessible or subject (to an influence or action); expose

6. to make available for use, competition, or participation, without restriction, taxation, fee, etc.

7. to free from prejudice and bigotry; make liberal and generous [to open one's mind]

8. to make known, public, etc.; reveal; disclose

9. to begin; enter upon; start; commence [to open the bidding, a session, etc.]

10. to cause to start operating, going, etc. [to open a new shop]

11. to undo, recall, or set aside (a judgment, settlement, etc.), so as to leave the matter open to further action

vi.

1. to become open

2. to spread out; expand; unroll; unfold

3. to become free from prejudice, etc.; become liberal and generous

4. to become revealed, disclosed, etc.; come into view

5. to be or act as an opening; give access: with to, into, on, etc.

6. to begin; start

7. 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]

8. to begin a series of performances, games, etc.

n.

[usually O-] any of various tournaments, esp. in golf or tennis, open to both professionals and amateurs

SYN.- FRANK¹

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open out

1. to make or become extended or larger

2. to develop

3. to disclose to view; reveal

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open to

1. glad or willing to receive, discuss, etc.

2. liable to; subject to

3. available or accessible to or for

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open up

1. to make or become open

2. to spread out; unfold

3. to start; begin

4. Informal to begin firing a gun or guns

5. Informal to speak freely or with great feeling

6. Informal to go or make go faster or as fast as possible

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the open or the Open

1. any open, unobstructed space on land or water

2. an unenclosed area; the outdoors

3. public knowledge

opened

adj.

openly

adv.

openness

n.