ENTRANCE

I . *en·trance

/ ˈentrəns; NAmE / noun

—see also entrance (II)

DOOR / GATE

1.

[ C ] entrance (to / of sth) a door, gate, passage, etc. used for entering a room, building or place :

the entrance to the museum / the museum entrance

the front / back / side entrance of the house

A lighthouse marks the entrance to the harbour.

an entrance hall / lobby

I'll meet you at the main entrance .

—compare exit noun (1)

GOING IN

2.

[ C , usually sing. ] entrance (of sb) the act of entering a room, building or place, especially in a way that attracts the attention of other people :

His sudden entrance took everyone by surprise.

A fanfare signalled the entrance of the king.

She made her entrance after all the other guests had arrived.

The hero makes his entrance (= walks onto the stage) in Scene 2.

3.

[ U ] entrance (to sth) the right or opportunity to enter a building or place :

They were refused entrance to the exhibition.

( BrE )

an entrance fee (= money paid to go into a museum, etc.)

The police were unable to gain entrance to the house.

BECOMING INVOLVED

4.

[ C ] entrance (into sth) the act of becoming involved in sth :

The company made a dramatic entrance into the export market.

TO CLUB / INSTITUTION

5.

[ U ] entrance (to sth) permission to become a member of a club, society, university, etc. :

a university entrance exam

entrance requirements

Entrance to the golf club is by sponsorship only.

—compare entry

II . en·trance

/ ɪnˈtrɑːns; NAmE -ˈtræns/ verb

[ vn ] [ usually passive ] ( formal ) to make sb feel great pleasure and admiration so that they give sb/sth all their attention

SYN enthral :

He listened to her, entranced.

—see also entrance (I)

►  en·tran·cing adjective :

entrancing music

••

WORD ORIGIN

I . late 15th cent. (in the sense right or opportunity of admission ): from Old French , from entrer enter.

II . late 16th cent. (formerly also as intrance ): from en- , in- into + trance .