/ ˈəʊpən; NAmE ˈoʊ-/ adjective , verb , noun
■ adjective
NOT CLOSED
1.
allowing things or people to go through :
A wasp flew in the open window.
She had left the door wide open .
OPP closed
2.
( of sb's eyes, mouth, etc. ) with eyelids or lips apart :
She had difficulty keeping her eyes open (= because she was very tired) .
He was breathing through his open mouth.
OPP closed
3.
spread out; with the edges apart :
The flowers are all open now.
The book lay open on the table.
OPP closed
4.
not blocked by anything :
The pass is kept open all the year.
OPP closed
NOT FASTENED
5.
not fastened or covered, so that things can easily come out or be put in :
Leave the envelope open.
The bag burst open and everything fell out.
6.
( of clothes ) not fastened :
Her coat was open.
NOT ENCLOSED
7.
not surrounded by anything; not confined :
open country (= without forests, buildings, etc.)
a city with a lot of parks and open spaces
driving along the open road (= part of a road in the country, where you can drive fast)
NOT COVERED
8.
with no cover or roof on :
an open drain
people working in the open air (= not in a building)
The hall of the old house was open to the sky.
an open wound (= with no skin covering it)
FOR CUSTOMERS / VISITORS
9.
[ not usually before noun ] if a shop / store, bank, business, etc. is open , it is ready for business and will admit customers or visitors :
Is the museum open on Sundays?
The new store will be open in the spring.
The house had been thrown open to the public.
I declare this festival open.
OPP closed
OF COMPETITION / BUILDING
10.
if a competition, etc. is open , anyone can enter it
SYN public :
an open debate / championship / scholarship
She was tried in open court (= the public could go and listen to the trial) .
The debate was thrown open to the audience.
11.
[ not before noun ] open to sb if a competition, building, etc. is open to particular people, those people can enter it :
The competition is open to young people under the age of 18.
The house is not open to the public.
OPP closed
AVAILABLE
12.
[ not before noun ] open (to sb) to be available and ready to use :
What options are open to us?
Is the offer still open?
I want to keep my Swiss bank account open.
OPP closed
NOT PROTECTED
13.
open (to sth) likely to suffer sth such as criticism, injury, etc.
SYN vulnerable :
The system is open to abuse.
He has laid himself wide open to political attack.
NOT HIDDEN
14.
known to everyone; not kept hidden :
an open quarrel
open government
their open display of affection
His eyes showed open admiration as he looked at her.
PERSON'S CHARACTER
15.
honest; not keeping thoughts and feelings hidden
SYN frank :
She was always open with her parents.
He was quite open about his reasons for leaving.
➡ note at honest
16.
open to sth ( of a person ) willing to listen to and think about new ideas :
I'm open to suggestions for what you would like to do in our classes.
NOT YET DECIDED
17.
open (to sth) not yet finally decided or settled :
The race is still wide open (= anyone could win) .
The price is not open to negotiation.
Some phrases in the contract are open to interpretation.
Which route is better remains an open question (= it is not decided) .
In an interview try to ask open questions (= to which the answer is not just 'yes' or 'no') .
CLOTH
18.
with wide spaces between the threads :
an open weave
PHONETICS
19.
(also low ) ( of a vowel ) produced by opening the mouth wide
—compare close (II)
•
IDIOMS
- be an open secret
- have / keep an open mind (about / on sth)
- keep your ears / eyes open (for sth)
- an open book
- an open invitation (to sb)
- with open arms
—more at burst verb , door , eye noun , market noun , option
■ verb
DOOR / WINDOW / LID
1.
[ vn ] to move a door, window, lid, etc. so that it is no longer closed :
Mr Chen opened the car door for his wife.
OPP close
2.
[ v ] to move or be moved so that it is no longer closed :
The door opened and Alan walked in.
OPP close
CONTAINER / PACKAGE
3.
[ vn ] to remove the lid, undo the fastening , etc. of a container, etc. in order to see or get what is inside :
Shall I open another bottle?
He opened the letter and read it.
EYES
4.
[ vn , v ] if you open your eyes or your eyes open , you move your eyelids upwards so that you can see
OPP close
MOUTH
5.
if you open your mouth or your mouth opens , you move your lips, for example in order to speak :
[ vn ]
He hardly ever opens his mouth (= speaks) .
[also v ]
BOOK
6.
[ vn ] to turn the cover or the pages of a book so that it is no longer closed :
Open your books at page 25.
OPP close
SPREAD OUT
7.
to spread out or unfold ; to spread sth out or unfold it :
[ v ]
What if the parachute doesn't open?
The flowers are starting to open.
[ vn ]
Open the map on the table.
He opened his arms wide to embrace her.
BORDER / ROAD
8.
[ vn ] to make it possible for people, cars, goods, etc. to pass through a place :
When did the country open its borders?
The road will be opened again in a few hours after police have cleared it.
OPP close
FOR CUSTOMERS / VISITORS
9.
( of a shop / store, business, etc. ) to start business for the day; to start business for the first time :
[ v ]
What time does the bank open?
[ vn ]
The company opened its doors for business a month ago.
OPP close
10.
[ v ] to be ready for people to go to :
The new hospital opens on July 1st.
When does the play open?
OPP close
START STH
11.
[ vn ] open sth (with sth) to start an activity or event :
You need just one pound to open a bank account with us.
The police have opened an investigation into the death.
They will open the new season with a performance of 'Carmen'.
Troops opened fire on (= started shooting) the crowds.
➡ note at start
12.
[ v ] open (with sth) ( of a story, film / movie, etc. ) to start in a particular way :
The story opens with a murder.
WITH CEREMONY
13.
[ vn ] to perform a ceremony showing that a building can start being used :
The bridge was opened by the Queen.
COMPUTING
14.
[ vn , v ] to start a computer program or file so that you can use it on the screen
•
IDIOMS
- open doors for sb
- open your / sb's eyes (to sth)
- open your / sb's mind to sth
- open the way for sb/sth (to do sth)
—more at heart , heaven
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- open into / onto sth
- open out
- open out (to sb)
- open up
- open sth up | open up
- open sth up
■ noun
the open [ sing. ]
OUTDOORS
1.
outdoors; in the countryside :
Children need to play out in the open .
NOT HIDDEN
2.
not hidden or secret :
Government officials do not want these comments in the open .
They intend to bring their complaints out into the open .
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English open (adjective), openian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch open and German offen , from the root of the adverb up .