I. ˈō-pən, -p ə m adjective
( open·er ˈōp-nər, ˈō-pə- ; open·est ˈōp-nəst, ˈō-pə-)
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German offan open, Old English ūp up
Date: before 12th century
1. : having no enclosing or confining barrier : accessible on all or nearly all sides
cattle grazing on an open range
2.
a.
(1) : being in a position or adjustment to permit passage : not shut or locked
an open door
(2) : having a barrier (as a door) so adjusted as to allow passage
the house was open
b. : having the lips parted
stood there with his mouth wide open
c. : not buttoned or zipped
an open shirt
3.
a. : completely free from concealment : exposed to general view or knowledge
their hostilities eventually erupted with open war
b. : exposed or vulnerable to attack or question : subject
open to doubt
c. : being an operation or surgical procedure in which an incision is made such that the tissues are fully exposed
4.
a. : not covered with a top, roof, or lid
an open car
her eyes were open
b. : having no protective covering
open wiring
an open wound
5. : not restricted to a particular group or category of participants
open to the public
open housing
as
a. : enterable by both amateur and professional contestants
an open tournament
b. : enterable by a registered voter regardless of political affiliation
an open primary
6. : fit to be traveled over : presenting no obstacle to passage or view
the open road
open country
7. : having the parts or surfaces laid out in an expanded position : spread out : unfolded
an open book
8.
a.
(1) : low 13
(2) : formed with the tongue in a lower position
Italian has an open and a close e
b.
(1) : having clarity and resonance unimpaired by undue tension or constriction of the throat
an open vocal tone
(2) of a tone : produced by an open string or on a wind instrument by the lip without the use of slides, valves, or keys
9.
a. : available to follow or make use of
the only course open to us
b. : not taken up with duties or engagements
keep an hour open on Friday
c. : not finally decided : subject to further consideration
the salary is open
an open question
d. : available for a qualified applicant : vacant
the job is still open
e. : remaining available for use or filling until canceled
an open order for more items
f. : available for future purchase
these items are in open stock
g. : available for breeding : not now pregnant
an open heifer
h. : not proprietary : available to third party developers
open source code
10.
a. : characterized by ready accessibility and usually generous attitude: as
(1) : generous in giving
(2) : willing to hear and consider or to accept and deal with : responsive
(3) : free from reserve or pretense : frank
b. : accessible to the influx of new factors (as foreign goods)
an open market
11.
a. : having openings, interruptions, or spaces
open mesh
as
(1) : being porous and friable
open soil
(2) : sparsely distributed : scattered
open population
(3) of a compound : having components separated by a space in writing or printing (as opaque projector )
b. : not made up of a continuous closed circuit of channels
the insect circulatory system is open
12.
a. of an organ pipe : not stopped at the top
b. of a string on a musical instrument : not stopped by the finger
13. : being in operation
an open microphone
especially : ready for business, patronage, or use
the store is open from 9 to 5
the new highway will be open next week
14.
a.
(1) : characterized by lack of effective regulation of various commercial enterprises
an open town
(2) : not repressed by legal controls
open gambling
b. : free from checking or hampering restraints
an open economy
c. : relatively unguarded by opponents
passed to an open teammate
15. : having been opened by a first ante, bet, or bid
the bidding is open
16. of punctuation : characterized by sparing use especially of the comma
17.
a. : containing none of its endpoints
an open interval
b. : being a set or composed of sets each point of which has a neighborhood all of whose points are contained in the set
the interior of a sphere is an open set
18.
a. : being an incomplete electrical circuit
b. : not allowing the flow of electricity
an open switch
19. of a universe : having insufficient mass to halt expansion gravitationally
Synonyms: see frank , liable
• open adverb
• open·ly ˈō-pən-lē adverb
• open·ness -pə(n)-nəs noun
II. verb
( opened ˈō-pənd, ˈō-p ə md ; open·ing ˈōp-niŋ, ˈō-pə-)
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to move (as a door) from a closed position
b. : to make available for entry or passage by turning back (as a barrier) or removing (as a cover or an obstruction)
2.
a. : to make available for or active in a regular function
open a new store
b. : to make accessible for a particular purpose
open ed new land for settlement
open the way for changes
c. : to initiate access to (a computer file) prior to use
3.
a. : to disclose or expose to view : reveal
b. : to make more discerning or responsive : enlighten
must open our minds to the problems
c. : to bring into view or come in sight of by changing position
4.
a. : to make an opening in
open ed the boil
b. : to loosen and make less compact
open the soil
5. : to spread out : unfold
open ed the book
6.
a. : to enter upon : begin
open ed the meeting
b. : to commence action in a card game by making (a first bid), putting a first bet in (the pot), or playing (a card or suit) as first lead
7. : to restore or recall (as an order) from a finally determined state to a state in which the parties are free to prosecute or oppose
intransitive verb
1. : to become open
the office open ed early
2.
a. : to spread out : expand
the wound open ed under the strain
b. : to become disclosed
a beautiful vista open ed before us
3. : to become enlightened or responsive
4. : to give access
the rooms open onto a hall
5. : speak out 2
finally he open ed freely on the subject
6.
a. : to begin a course or activity
the play open s on Tuesday
b. : to make a bet, bid, or lead in commencing a round or hand of a card game
7. : to provide the opening performance of a show before the main event
• open·abil·i·ty ˌōp-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē, ˌō-pə- noun
• open·able ˈōp-nə-bəl, ˈō-pə- adjective
III. noun
Date: 13th century
1. : opening
2. : open and unobstructed space: as
a. : open air
b. : open water
3. : an open contest, competition, or tournament
4. : a public or unconcealed state or position