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Webster 1913 Edition

Opening

O′pen-ing

,
Noun.
1.
The act or process of opening; a beginning; commencement; first appearance;
as, the
opening
of a speech
.
The
opening
of your glory was like that of light.
Dryden.
2.
A place which is open; a breach; an aperture; a gap; cleft, or hole.
We saw him at the
opening
of his tent.
Shakespeare
3.
Hence:
An opportunity;
as, an
opening
for business
.
[Colloq.]
Dickens.
5.
A thinly wooded space, without undergrowth, in the midst of a forest; a clearing;
as, oak
openings
.
[U.S.]
Cooper.

Webster 1828 Edition

Opening

OPENING

,
ppr.
o'pning. Unclosing; unsealing; uncovering; revealing; interpreting.

OPENING

,
Noun.
o'pning.
1.
A breach; an aperture; a hole or perforation.
2.
A place admitting entrance; as a bay or creek.
3.
Dawn; first appearance or visibleness; beginning of exhibition or discovery.
The opening of your glory was like that of light.

Definition 2025

opening

opening

English

Verb

opening

  1. present participle of open

Noun

opening ‎(plural openings)

  1. An act or instance of making or becoming open.
    The daily openings of the day lily bloom gives it its name.
    He remembered fondly the Christmas morning opening of presents.
  2. Something that is open.
    A salamander darted out of an opening in the rocks.
    He slipped through an opening in the crowd.
  3. An act or instance of beginning.
    There have been few factory and store openings in the US lately.
    Their opening of the concert with Brass in Pocket always fires up the crowd.
  4. Something that is a beginning.
    1. 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.
    2. The initial period a show at an art gallery or museum is first opened, especially the first evening.
    3. The first few measures of a musical composition.
    4. (chess) The first few moves in a game of chess.
      John spends two hours a day studying openings, and another two hours studying endgames.
  5. A vacant position, especially in an array.
    Are there likely to be any openings on the Supreme Court in the next four years?
    1. A time available in a schedule.
      If you'd like to make a booking with us, we have an opening at twelve o'clock.
      The only two-hour openings for the hockey rink are between 1AM and 5AM.
    2. An unoccupied employment position.
      We have an opening in our marketing department.
  6. An opportunity, as in a competitive activity.
    • 2010 December 29, Sam Sheringham, “Liverpool 0 - 1 Wolverhampton”, in BBC:
      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.

Synonyms

Coordinate terms

Translations

Adjective

opening ‎(comparative more opening, superlative most opening)

  1. (cricket) describing the first period of play, usually up to the fall of the first wicket; describing a batsman who opens the innings or a bowler who opens the attack

Derived terms

Dutch

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈoːpənɪŋ/

Etymology

From openen +‎ -ing.

Noun

opening f ‎(plural openingen, diminutive openinkje n)

  1. opening, gap
  2. the act or process of being opened

Pronunciation

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