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Opening

//ˈəʊ.pə.nɪŋ// adj, noun, verb

Definitions

Adjective

1
Pertaining to the start or beginning of a series of events. not-comparable
"The opening theme of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony is, perhaps, the most recognizable in all of European art music."
2
Of the first period of play, usually up to the fall of the first wicket. not-comparable
3
Of the batsman who opens the innings or of a bowler who opens the attack. not-comparable

Adjective

1
first or beginning wordnet

Noun

1
An act or instance of making or becoming open.
"The daily openings of the day lily bloom gives it its name."
2
the first of a series of actions wordnet
3
A gap permitting passage through.
"A salamander darted out of an opening in the rocks."
4
the act of opening something wordnet
5
An act or instance of beginning.
"There have been few factory and store openings in the US lately."

Show 20 more definitions

6
becoming open or being made open wordnet
7
Something that is a beginning.; The first performance of a show or play by a particular troupe.
"They were disappointed at the turnout for their opening, but hoped that word would spread."
8
a recognized sequence of moves at the beginning of a game of chess wordnet
9
Something that is a beginning.; The initial period when an art exhibition, fashion show, etc. is first opened, especially the first evening.
"The French openings decided that satin gowns, suits, wraps and even hats were to be in first fashion this autumn."
10
an entrance equipped with a hatch; especially a passageway between decks of a ship wordnet
11
Something that is a beginning.; The first few measures of a musical composition.
12
a vacant or unobstructed space that is man-made wordnet
13
Something that is a beginning.; The first few moves in a game.
"John spends two hours a day studying chess openings, and another two hours studying endgames."
14
an aperture or hole that opens into a bodily cavity wordnet
15
A vacant position, especially in an array.
"Are there likely to be any openings on the Supreme Court in the next four years?"
16
a possible alternative wordnet
17
A vacant position, especially in an array.; A time available in a schedule.
"If you'd like to make a booking with us, we have an opening at twelve o'clock."
18
the initial part of the introduction wordnet
19
A vacant position, especially in an array.; An unoccupied employment position.
"We have an opening in our marketing department."
20
the first performance (as of a theatrical production) wordnet
21
An opportunity, as in a competitive activity.
"The Reds carved the first opening of the second period as Glen Johnson's pull-back found David Ngog but the Frenchman hooked wide from six yards."
22
a ceremony accompanying the start of some enterprise wordnet
23
In mathematical morphology, the dilation of the erosion of a set.
24
an open or empty space in or between things wordnet
25
opportunity especially for employment or promotion wordnet

Verb

1
present participle and gerund of open form-of, gerund, participle, present

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English openynge, openande, openand, from Old English openiende, from Proto-West Germanic *opanōndī, from Proto-Germanic *upanōndz, present participle of *upanōną (“to open”), equivalent to open + -ing. Cognate with West Frisian iepenjend, Dutch openend, German öffnend, Swedish öppnande, Icelandic opnandi.

Etymology 2

Etymology 3

From Middle English openyng, openynge, openunge, from Old English openung (“an opening”), from Proto-West Germanic *opanungu, from Proto-Germanic *upanungō (“an opening”), equivalent to open + -ing. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Eepenge, Epenge (“an opening”), West Frisian iepening (“an opening”), Dutch opening (“an opening”), German Öffnung (“an opening”), Danish åbning (“an opening”), Swedish öppning (“an opening”).

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