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1. First or beginning
   "the memorable opening bars of Beethoven's Fifth"; "the play's opening scene"

1. An open or empty space in or between things
   "there was a small opening between the trees";
   - gap
    
2. A ceremony accompanying the start of some enterprise
    
3. Becoming open or being made open
   "the opening of his arms was the sign I was waiting for"
    
4. The first performance (as of a theatrical production)
   "the opening received good critical reviews";
   - opening night, curtain raising
    
5. The act of opening something
   "the ray of light revealed his cautious opening of the door"
    
6. Opportunity especially for employment or promotion
   "there is an opening in the sales department"
    
7. The initial part of the introduction
   "the opening established the basic theme"
    
8. A possible alternative
   - possibility, possible action
    
9. An aperture or hole that opens into a bodily cavity
   "the opening into the aorta from the lower left chamber of the heart";
   - orifice, porta
    
10. A vacant or unobstructed space that is man-made
    "they left a small opening for the cat at the bottom of the door"
     
11. An entrance equipped with a hatch; especially a passageway between decks of a ship
    - hatchway, scuttle, hatch
     
12. (chess) a recognized sequence of moves at the beginning of a game of chess
    "he memorized all the important chess openings";
    - chess opening
     
13. The first of a series of actions
    - first step, initiative, opening move

1. Cause to allow entrance or exit; allow entry after being shut
   "Mary opened the car door";
   - open up
    
2. Start to operate or function or cause to start operating or functioning
   "open a business";
   - open up
    
3. Become open
   "The door opened";
   - open up
    
4. Begin or set in action, of meetings, speeches, recitals, etc.
   "He opened the meeting with a long speech"
    
5. Spread out or open from a closed or folded state
   "open the map";
   - unfold, spread, spread out
    
6. Make available
   "This opens up new possibilities";
   - open up
    
7. Become available
   "an opportunity opened up";
   - open up
    
8. Have an opening, passage or outlet
   "The bedrooms open into the hall"
    
9. (chess) make the opening move
   "Kasparov opened with a standard opening"
    
10. Provide entry or access to
    "the door opens to the patio";
    - afford, give
     
11. Display the contents of a file or start an application as on a computer

Derived forms: openings

See also: beginning, first, inaugural, initiative, initiatory, introductory, maiden, pioneer, starting

Type of: afford, alternative, arise, artefact [Brit], artifact [N. Amer], beginning, ceremonial, ceremonial occasion, ceremony, chance, change of integrity, change state, choice, come up, commence, commencement, display, embark on, entrance, entranceway, entrée, entry, entryway, exhibit, expose, give, go, introduction, motility, motion, move, movement, observance, opportunity, option, passage, passageway, sequence, space, start, start up, succession, turn, undo, yield

Antonym: close, close up, closing, fold, shutting

Part of: Earth's surface, surface

Encyclopedia: Opening