Collins English-English Dictionary

open ['əυp^ən]

1. 1. adj not closed or barred

   the door is open

2. 2. adj affording free passage, access, view, etc; not blocked or obstructed

   the road is open for traffic

3. 3. adj not sealed, fastened, or wrapped

   an open package

4. 4. adj having the interior part accessible

   an open drawer

5. 5. adj extended, expanded, or unfolded

   an open newspaper

   an open flower

6. 6. adj ready for business

   the shops are open

7. 7. adj able to be obtained; available

   the position advertised last week is no longer open

8. 8. adj unobstructed by buildings, trees, etc

   open countryside

9. 9. adj free to all to join, enter, use, visit, etc

   an open competition

10. 10. adj unengaged or unoccupied

    the doctor has an hour open for you to call

11. 11. adj See open season

12. 12. adj not decided or finalized

    an open question

13. 13. adj ready to entertain new ideas; not biased or prejudiced

    an open mind

14. 14. adj unreserved or candid

    she was very open in her description

15. 15. adj liberal or generous

    an open hand

16. 16. adj extended or eager to receive (esp in the phrase with open arms)

17. 17. adj exposed to view; blatant

    open disregard of the law

18. 18. adj liable or susceptible

    you will leave yourself open to attack if you speak

19. 19. adj (of climate or seasons) free from frost; mild

20. 20. adj free from navigational hazards, such as ice, sunken ships, etc

    open water

21. 21. adj [US] without legal restrictions or enforceable regulations, esp in relation to gambling, vice, etc

    an open town

22. 22. adj without barriers to prevent absconding

    an open prison

23. 23. adj having large or numerous spacing or apertures

    open ranks

24. 24. adj full of small openings or gaps; porous

    an open texture

25. 25. adj [printing] (of type matter) generously leaded or widely spaced

26. 26. adj [music] (of a violin or guitar string) not stopped with the finger

27. 27. adj (of a pipe, such as an organ pipe) not closed at either end

28. 28. adj (of a note) played on such a string or pipe

29. 29. adj [commerce] in operation; active

    an open account

30. 30. adj unrestricted; unlimited

    open credit

    open insurance cover

31. 31. adj See open cheque

32. 32. adj (of a return ticket) not specifying a date for travel

33. 33. adj [sport] (of a goal, court, etc) unguarded or relatively unprotected

    the forward missed an open goal

34. 34. adj (of a stance, esp in golf) characterized by the front of the body being turned forward

35. 35. adj (of a wound) exposed to the air

36. 36. adj (esp of the large intestine) free from obstruction

37. 37. adj undefended and of no military significance

    an open city

38. 38. adj [phonetics] denoting a vowel pronounced with the lips relatively wide apart

39. 39. adj denoting a syllable that does not end in a consonant, as in pa

40. 40. adj [chess] (of a file) having no pawns on it

41. 41. adj [maths] (of a set) containing points whose neighbourhood consists of other points of the same set

    points inside a circle are an open set

42. 42. adj [computing] (of software or a computer system) designed to an internationally agreed standard in order to allow communication between computers, irrespective of size, maufacturer, etc

43. 43. vb to move or cause to move from a closed or fastened position

    to open a window

44. 44. vb [when intr, foll by on or onto] to render, be, or become accessible or unobstructed

    to open a road

    to open a parcel

    the door opens into the hall

45. 45. vi. [intr] to come into or appear in view

    the lake opened before us

46. 46. vt. [tr] to puncture (a boil) so as to permit drainage

47. 47. vt. to extend or unfold or cause to extend or unfold

    to open a newspaper

48. 48. vt. to disclose or uncover or be disclosed or uncovered

    to open one's heart

49. 49. vt. to cause (the mind) to become receptive or (of the mind) to become receptive

50. 50. vt. to operate or cause to operate

    to open a shop

51. 51. vt. [when intr, sometimes foll by out] to make or become less compact or dense in structure

    to open ranks

52. 52. vt. to set or be set in action; start

    to open a discussion

    to open the batting

53. 53. vt. [tr] to arrange for (a bank account, savings account, etc) usually by making an initial deposit

54. 54. vt. to turn to a specified point in (a book, magazine, etc)

    open at page one

55. 55. vt. [law] to make the opening statement in (a case before a court of law)

56. 56. vi. [intr] [cards] to bet, bid, or lead first on a hand

57. 57. n See open air

58. 58. n [sport] a competition which anyone may enter

59. 59. n See also open up

60. 60. n [Etymology] Old English; related to Old French open, epen, Old Saxon opan, Old High German offan