| opening | | |
| n. (object) | 1. gap, opening | an open or empty space in or between things.; "there was a small opening between the trees"; "the explosion made a gap in the wall" |
| ~ pocket | an opening at the corner or on the side of a billiard table into which billiard balls are struck. |
| ~ diastema | a gap or vacant space between two teeth. |
| ~ nodes of ranvier, ranvier's nodes | small gaps in the myelin sheath of medullated axons. |
| ~ foramen, hiatus | a natural opening or perforation through a bone or a membranous structure. |
| ~ breach | an opening (especially a gap in a dike or fortification). |
| ~ chasm | a deep opening in the earth's surface. |
| ~ crack, scissure, cleft, crevice, fissure | a long narrow opening. |
| ~ hole | an opening into or through something. |
| ~ mouth | an opening that resembles a mouth (as of a cave or a gorge).; "he rode into the mouth of the canyon"; "they built a fire at the mouth of the cave" |
| ~ rift | a gap between cloud masses.; "the sun shone through a rift in the clouds" |
| ~ rent, rip, tear, snag, split | an opening made forcibly as by pulling apart.; "there was a rip in his pants"; "she had snags in her stockings" |
| ~ earth's surface, surface | the outermost level of the land or sea.; "earthquakes originate far below the surface"; "three quarters of the Earth's surface is covered by water" |
| ~ window | an opening that resembles a window in appearance or function.; "he could see them through a window in the trees" |
| ~ space | an empty area (usually bounded in some way between things).; "the architect left space in front of the building"; "they stopped at an open space in the jungle"; "the space between his teeth" |
| n. (event) | 2. opening | a ceremony accompanying the start of some enterprise. |
| ~ ceremonial, ceremonial occasion, ceremony, observance | a formal event performed on a special occasion.; "a ceremony commemorating Pearl Harbor" |
| n. (act) | 3. opening | becoming open or being made open.; "the opening of his arms was the sign I was waiting for" |
| ~ change of integrity | the act of changing the unity or wholeness of something. |
| ~ cutting, cut | the act of penetrating or opening open with a sharp edge.; "his cut in the lining revealed the hidden jewels" |
| n. (event) | 4. curtain raising, opening, opening night | the first performance (as of a theatrical production).; "the opening received good critical reviews" |
| ~ start | the beginning of anything.; "it was off to a good start" |
| n. (act) | 5. opening | the act of opening something.; "the ray of light revealed his cautious opening of the door" |
| ~ movement, motility, motion, move | a change of position that does not entail a change of location.; "the reflex motion of his eyebrows revealed his surprise"; "movement is a sign of life"; "an impatient move of his hand"; "gastrointestinal motility" |
| n. (state) | 6. opening | opportunity especially for employment or promotion.; "there is an opening in the sales department" |
| ~ chance, opportunity | a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances.; "the holiday gave us the opportunity to visit Washington"; "now is your chance" |
| n. (communication) | 7. opening | the initial part of the introduction.; "the opening established the basic theme" |
| ~ introduction | the first section of a communication. |
| ~ teaser | an attention-getting opening presented at the start of a television show. |
| ~ salutation | word of greeting used to begin a letter. |
| n. (cognition) | 8. opening, possibility, possible action | a possible alternative.; "bankruptcy is always a possibility" |
| ~ alternative, option, choice | one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen.; "what option did I have?"; "there no other alternative"; "my only choice is to refuse" |
| ~ possible | something that can be done.; "politics is the art of the possible" |
| n. (body) | 9. opening, orifice, porta | an aperture or hole that opens into a bodily cavity.; "the orifice into the aorta from the lower left chamber of the heart" |
| ~ vent | external opening of urinary or genital system of a lower vertebrate. |
| ~ blastopore | the opening into the archenteron. |
| ~ aortic orifice | the orifice from the lower left chamber of the heart to the aorta. |
| ~ stoma | a mouth or mouthlike opening (especially one created by surgery on the surface of the body to create an opening to an internal organ). |
| ~ passageway, passage | a path or channel or duct through or along which something may pass.; "the nasal passages" |
| ~ porta hepatis | opening for major blood vessels to enter and leave the liver. |
| ~ spiracle | a breathing orifice. |
| ~ mouth | the externally visible part of the oral cavity on the face and the system of organs surrounding the opening.; "she wiped lipstick from her mouth" |
| ~ os | a mouth or mouthlike opening. |
| ~ cervix uteri, uterine cervix, cervix | necklike opening to the uterus. |
| ~ fenestra | a small opening covered with membrane (especially one in the bone between the middle and inner ear). |
| ~ cardia | the opening into the stomach and that part of the stomach connected to the esophagus. |
| ~ introitus | entrance or opening to a hollow organ or tube (especially the vaginal opening).; "the introitus of the vagina" |
| ~ external orifice, urethral orifice | the orifice through which urine is discharged. |
| ~ pylorus | a small circular opening between the stomach and the duodenum. |
| ~ anus | the excretory opening at the end of the alimentary canal. |
| ~ fontanel, fontanelle, soft spot | any membranous gap between the bones of the cranium in an infant or fetus. |
| ~ naris | any of the openings to the nasal cavities that allow air to flow through the cavities to the pharynx. |
| ~ rima | a narrow elongated opening or fissure between two symmetrical parts. |
| n. (artifact) | 10. opening | a vacant or unobstructed space that is man-made.; "they left a small opening for the cat at the bottom of the door" |
| ~ artefact, artifact | a man-made object taken as a whole. |
| ~ aperture | an man-made opening; usually small. |
| ~ bell | the flared opening of a tubular device. |
| ~ breech, rear of barrel, rear of tube | opening in the rear of the barrel of a gun where bullets can be loaded. |
| ~ exit, way out, outlet, issue | an opening that permits escape or release.; "he blocked the way out"; "the canyon had only one issue" |
| ~ fly front, fly | an opening in a garment that is closed by a zipper or by buttons concealed under a fold of cloth. |
| ~ crack, gap | a narrow opening.; "he opened the window a crack" |
| ~ gun muzzle, muzzle | the open circular discharging end of a gun. |
| ~ hole | an opening deliberately made in or through something. |
| ~ inlet, intake | an opening through which fluid is admitted to a tube or container. |
| ~ interstice | small opening between things. |
| ~ fenestella, lunette | oval or circular opening; to allow light into a dome or vault. |
| ~ mouth | the opening of a jar or bottle.; "the jar had a wide mouth" |
| ~ neck opening, neck | an opening in a garment for the neck of the wearer; a part of the garment near the wearer's neck. |
| ~ pass-through | an opening that resembles a window between two rooms (especially a shelved opening between a kitchen and dining room that is used to pass dishes). |
| ~ embrasure, porthole, port | an opening (in a wall or ship or armored vehicle) for firing through. |
| ~ slit | a long narrow opening. |
| ~ spout | an opening that allows the passage of liquids or grain. |
| ~ throat | an opening in the vamp of a shoe at the instep. |
| ~ grille, lattice, wicket | small opening (like a window in a door) through which business can be transacted. |
| ~ window | a transparent opening in a vehicle that allow vision out of the sides or back; usually is capable of being opened. |
| ~ window | an opening in a wall or screen that admits light and air and through which customers can be served.; "he stuck his head in the window" |
| n. (artifact) | 11. hatchway, opening, scuttle | an entrance equipped with a hatch; especially a passageway between decks of a ship. |
| ~ entrance, entranceway, entryway, entree, entry | something that provides access (to get in or get out).; "they waited at the entrance to the garden"; "beggars waited just outside the entryway to the cathedral" |
| ~ escape hatch | hatchway that provides a means of escape in an emergency. |
| ~ hatch | a movable barrier covering a hatchway. |
| n. (act) | 12. chess opening, opening | a recognized sequence of moves at the beginning of a game of chess.; "he memorized all the important chess openings" |
| ~ chess game, chess | a board game for two players who move their 16 pieces according to specific rules; the object is to checkmate the opponent's king. |
| ~ succession, sequence | the action of following in order.; "he played the trumps in sequence" |
| n. (act) | 13. first step, initiative, opening, opening move | the first of a series of actions. |
| ~ commencement, beginning, start | the act of starting something.; "he was responsible for the beginning of negotiations" |
| ~ curtain raiser | any preliminary activity. |
| ~ first base | the initial stage in accomplishing something.; "we didn't get to first base with that approach" |
| ~ peace initiative | opening move in negotiating a peace treaty. |
| adj. | 14. opening | first or beginning.; "the memorable opening bars of Beethoven's Fifth"; "the play's opening scene" |
| ~ beginning, first | serving to begin.; "the beginning canto of the poem"; "the first verse" |
| ~ initiative, initiatory, maiden, inaugural, first | serving to set in motion.; "the magazine's inaugural issue"; "the initiative phase in the negotiations"; "an initiatory step toward a treaty"; "his first (or maiden) speech in Congress"; "the liner's maiden voyage" |
| ~ introductory | serving to open or begin.; "began the slide show with some introductory remarks" |
| ~ starting | appropriate to the beginning or start of an event.; "the starting point"; "hands in the starting position" |
Recent comments
4 days 7 hours ago
16 weeks 15 hours ago
22 weeks 4 days ago
35 weeks 6 days ago
38 weeks 6 days ago
40 weeks 5 days ago
48 weeks 22 hours ago
50 weeks 5 days ago
1 year 1 hour ago
1 year 6 hours ago