open Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water
    clear.
    • finally broke out of the forest into the open
  2. noun where the air is unconfined
    out-of-doors; open air; outdoors.
    • he wanted to get outdoors a little
    • the concert was held in the open air
    • camping in the open
  3. noun a tournament in which both professionals and amateurs may play
  4. noun information that has become public
    surface.
    • all the reports were out in the open
    • the facts had been brought to the surface
  5. verb cause to open or to become open
    open up.
    • Mary opened the car door
  6. verb start to operate or function or cause to start operating or functioning
    open up.
    • open a business
  7. verb become open
    open up.
    • The door opened
  8. verb begin or set in action, of meetings, speeches, recitals, etc.
    • He opened the meeting with a long speech
  9. verb spread out or open from a closed or folded state
    spread; spread out; unfold.
    • open the map
    • spread your arms
  10. verb make available
    open up.
    • This opens up new possibilities
  11. verb become available
    open up.
    • an opportunity opened up
  12. verb have an opening or passage or outlet
    • The bedrooms open into the hall
  13. verb make the opening move
    • Kasparov opened with a standard opening
  14. verb afford access to
    afford; give.
    • the door opens to the patio
    • The French doors give onto a terrace
  15. verb display the contents of a file or start an application as on a computer
  16. adjective affording unobstructed entrance and exit; not shut or closed
    unfastened.
    • an open door
    • they left the door open
  17. adjective affording free passage or access
    • open drains
    • the road is open to traffic
    • open ranks
  18. adjective satellite with no protection or shield
    exposed.
    • the exposed northeast frontier
    • open to the weather
    • an open wound
  19. adjective satellite open to or in view of all
    • an open protest
    • an open letter to the editor
  20. adjective used of mouth or eyes
    opened.
    • keep your eyes open
    • his mouth slightly opened
  21. adjective satellite not having been filled
    • the job is still open
  22. adjective satellite accessible to all
    • open season
    • an open economy
  23. adjective satellite not defended or capable of being defended
    undefended; assailable; undefendable.
    • an open city
    • open to attack
  24. adjective satellite (of textures) full of small openings or gaps
    loose.
    • an open texture
    • a loose weave
  25. adjective satellite having no protecting cover or enclosure
    • an open boat
    • an open fire
    • open sports cars
  26. adjective (set theory) of an interval that contains neither of its endpoints
  27. adjective satellite not brought to a conclusion; subject to further thought
    undetermined; unresolved; undecided.
    • an open question
    • our position on this bill is still undecided
    • our lawsuit is still undetermined
  28. adjective satellite not sealed or having been unsealed
    opened.
    • the letter was already open
    • the opened package lay on the table
  29. adjective satellite without undue constriction as from e.g. tenseness or inhibition
    • the clarity and resonance of an open tone
    • her natural and open response
  30. adjective ready or willing to receive favorably
    receptive.
    • receptive to the proposals
  31. adjective open and observable; not secret or hidden
    overt.
    • an overt lie
    • overt hostility
    • overt intelligence gathering
    • open ballots
  32. adjective satellite not requiring union membership
    • an open shop employs nonunion workers
  33. adjective satellite possibly accepting or permitting
    subject; capable.
    • a passage capable of misinterpretation
    • open to interpretation
    • an issue open to question
    • the time is fixed by the director and players and therefore subject to much variation
  34. adjective satellite affording free passage or view
    clear.
    • a clear view
    • a clear path to victory
    • open waters
    • the open countryside
  35. adjective satellite openly straightforward and direct without reserve or secretiveness
    candid; heart-to-heart.
    • his candid eyes
    • an open and trusting nature
    • a heart-to-heart talk
  36. adjective satellite ready for business
    • the stores are open

WordNet

O"pen adjective
Etymology
AS. open; akin to D. open, OS. opan, G. offan, Icel. opinn, Sw. öppen, Dan. aaben, and perh. to E. up. Cf. Up, and Ope.
Definitions
  1. Free of access; not shut up; not closed; affording unobstructed ingress or egress; not impeding or preventing passage; not locked up or covered over; -- applied to passageways; as, an open door, window, road, etc.; also, to inclosed structures or objects; as, open houses, boxes, baskets, bottles, etc.; also, to means of communication or approach by water or land; as, an open harbor or roadstead.
    Through the gate, Wide open and unquarded, Satan passed. Milton
    Also, figuratively, used of the ways of communication of the mind, as by the senses; ready to hear, see, etc.; as, to keep one's eyes and ears open.
    His ears are open unto their cry. Ps. xxxiv. 15.
  2. Free to be used, enjoyed, visited, or the like; not private; public; unrestricted in use; as, an open library, museum, court, or other assembly; liable to the approach, trespass, or attack of any one; unprotected; exposed.
    If Demetrius . . . have a matter against any man, the law is open and there are deputies. Acts xix. 33.
    The service that I truly did his life, Hath left me open to all injuries. Shak.
  3. Free or cleared of obstruction to progress or to view; accessible; as, an open tract; the open sea.
  4. Not drawn together, closed, or contracted; extended; expanded; as, an open hand; open arms; an open flower; an open prospect.
    Each, with open arms, embraced her chosen knight. Dryden.
  5. Hence: (a) Without reserve or false pretense; sincere; characterized by sincerity; unfeigned; frank; also, generous; liberal; bounteous; -- applied to personal appearance, or character, and to the expression of thought and feeling, etc.
    With aspect open, shall erect his head. Pope.
    The Moor is of a free and open nature. Shak.
    The French are always open, familiar, and talkative. Addison.
    (b) Not concealed or secret; not hidden or disguised; exposed to view or to knowledge; revealed; apparent; as, open schemes or plans; open shame or guilt.
    His thefts are too open. Shak.
    That I may find him, and with secret gaze Or open admiration him behold. Milton.
  6. Not of a quality to prevent communication, as by closing water ways, blocking roads, etc.; hence, not frosty or inclement; mild; -- used of the weather or the climate; as, an open season; an open winter. Bacon.
  7. Not settled or adjusted; not decided or determined; not closed or withdrawn from consideration; as, an open account; an open question; to keep an offer or opportunity open.
  8. Free; disengaged; unappropriated; as, to keep a day open for any purpose; to be open for an engagement.
  9. (Phon.) (a) Uttered with a relatively wide opening of the articulating organs; -- said of vowels; as, the än fär is open as compared with the a in say. (b) Uttered, as a consonant, with the oral passage simply narrowed without closure, as in uttering s.
  10. (Mus.) (a) Not closed or stopped with the finger; -- said of the string of an instrument, as of a violin, when it is allowed to vibrate throughout its whole length. (b) Produced by an open string; as, an open tone. ✍ Open is used in many compounds, most of which are self-explaining; as, open-breasted, open-minded. Syn. -- Unclosed; uncovered; unprotected; exposed; plain; apparent; obvious; evident; public; unreserved; frank; sincere; undissembling; artless. See Candid, and Ingenuous.
O"pen noun
Definitions
  1. Open or unobstructed space; clear land, without trees or obstructions; open ocean; open water. "To sail into the open." Jowett (Thucyd. ).
    Then we got into the open. W. Black.
    = in the open Beau. & Fl.
O"pen intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To unclose; to form a hole, breach, or gap; to be unclosed; to be parted.
    The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram. Ps. cvi. 17.
  2. To expand; to spread out; to be disclosed; as, the harbor opened to our view.
  3. To begin; to commence; as, the stock opened at par; the battery opened upon the enemy.
  4. (Sporting) To bark on scent or view of the game.

Webster 1913