adj.
- allowing access, passage, or view; not closed, fastened, or restricted.
- exposed to the air or to view or attack; not covered or protected:
an open boat.
▸(of land) not covered with buildings or trees.
▸
(open to)
vulnerable or subject to.
▸(of a town or city) officially declared to be undefended, and so immune under international law from bombardment.
- spread out or unfolded.
▸(of a book) with the covers parted and able to be read.
- admitting customers or visitors; available for business.
▸freely available or accessible.
▸(of an offer or opportunity) still available.
- frank and communicative.
▸not concealed; manifest.
▸welcoming public discussion, criticism, and enquiry:
open government.
- (of a matter) not finally settled.
▸
(often open to)
receptive to new ideas.
▸
(open to)
admitting of; making possible.
- Music (of a string) allowed to vibrate along its whole length.
▸(of a pipe) unstopped at each end.
- Phonetics (of a vowel) produced with a relatively wide opening of the mouth and the tongue kept low.
▸(of a syllable) ending in a vowel.
- (of an electric circuit) having a break in the conducting path.
- (of a fabric) loosely knitted or woven.
v.
- move (a door, window, etc.) so that it is open.
▸undo or remove the cover or fastening of.
▸
(open on to/into)
(of a door, window, etc.) give access to.
- unfold or be unfolded; spread out.
▸part the covers of (a book) to read it.
▸(of a prospect) extend into view.
- make or become open for customers or visitors.
▸ceremonially declare (a building, road, etc.) to be completed and ready for use.
- formally begin or establish.
▸
(open up or open fire)
begin shooting.
▸(of a counsel in a law court) make a preliminary statement in (a case) before calling witnesses.
▸Bridge make (the first bid) in the auction.
- make available or more widely known.
▸
(open out/up)
become more communicative or confiding.
- break the conducting path of (an electric circuit).
n.
-
(the open)
outdoors or in the countryside.
▸
(usu. in phr. in/into the open)
a lack of concealment or secrecy.
-
(Open)
a championship or competition with no restrictions on who may compete.
- an accidental break in the conducting path for an electric current.
Phrase
- the open air
an unenclosed space outdoors. - in open court
in a court of law, before the judge and the public. - open-and-shut
(of a case or argument) admitting no doubt or dispute; straightforward.
Derivative
- openable adj.
- openness n.
Etymology
OE open (adj.), openian (v.), of Gmc origin, from the root of the adv. up.