From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
opening
adj 1: first or beginning; "the memorable opening bars of
Beethoven's Fifth"; "the play's opening scene" [ant:
closing]
n 1: an open or empty space in or between things; "there was a
small opening between the trees"; "the explosion made a gap
in the wall" [syn: opening, gap]
2: a ceremony accompanying the start of some enterprise
3: becoming open or being made open; "the opening of his arms
was the sign I was waiting for"
4: the first performance (as of a theatrical production); "the
opening received good critical reviews" [syn: opening,
opening night, curtain raising]
5: the act of opening something; "the ray of light revealed his
cautious opening of the door" [ant: closing, shutting]
6: opportunity especially for employment or promotion; "there is
an opening in the sales department"
7: the initial part of the introduction; "the opening
established the basic theme"
8: a possible alternative; "bankruptcy is always a possibility"
[syn: possibility, possible action, opening]
9: an aperture or hole that opens into a bodily cavity; "the
orifice into the aorta from the lower left chamber of the
heart" [syn: orifice, opening, porta]
10: a vacant or unobstructed space that is man-made; "they left
a small opening for the cat at the bottom of the door"
11: an entrance equipped with a hatch; especially a passageway
between decks of a ship [syn: hatchway, opening,
scuttle]
12: a recognized sequence of moves at the beginning of a game of
chess; "he memorized all the important chess openings" [syn:
opening, chess opening]
13: the first of a series of actions [syn: first step,
initiative, opening move, opening]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Open \O"pen\ v. t. [imp. & p. p. Opened; p. pr. & vb. n.
Opening.] [AS. openian. See Open,a.]
1. To make or set open; to render free of access; to unclose;
to unbar; to unlock; to remove any fastening or covering
from; as, to open a door; to open a box; to open a room;
to open a letter.
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And all the windows of my heart
I open to the day. --Whittier.
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2. To spread; to expand; as, to open the hand.
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3. To disclose; to reveal; to interpret; to explain.
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The king opened himself to some of his council, that
he was sorry for the earl's death. --Bacon.
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Unto thee have I opened my cause. --Jer. xx. 12.
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While he opened to us the Scriptures. --Luke xxiv.
32.
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4. To make known; to discover; also, to render available or
accessible for settlements, trade, etc.
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The English did adventure far for to open the North
parts of America. --Abp. Abbot.
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5. To enter upon; to begin; as, to open a discussion; to open
fire upon an enemy; to open trade, or correspondence; to
open an investigation; to open a case in court, or a
meeting.
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6. To loosen or make less compact; as, to open matted cotton
by separating the fibers.
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To open one's mouth, to speak.
To open up, to lay open; to discover; to disclose.
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Poetry that had opened up so many delightful views
into the character and condition of our "bold
peasantry, their country's pride." --Prof.
Wilson.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Opening \O"pen*ing\, n.
1. The act or process of opening; a beginning; commencement;
first appearance; as, the opening of a speech.
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The opening of your glory was like that of light.
--Dryden.
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2. A place which is open; a breach; an aperture; a gap;
cleft, or hole.
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We saw him at the opening of his tent. --Shak.
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3. Hence: An opportunity; as, an opening for business.
[Colloq.] --Dickens.
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4. Hence: A vacant place; a job which does not have a current
occupant; as, they are now interviewing candidates for the
two openings in the department.
[PJC]
5. A thinly wooded space, without undergrowth, in the midst
of a forest; a clearing; as, oak openings. [U.S.]
--Cooper.
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