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OPENING
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I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
The first of a series of actions
Synonyms:
first step; initiative; opening; opening move
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("opening" is a kind of...):
beginning; commencement; start (the act of starting something)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "opening"):
curtain raiser (any preliminary activity)
first base (the initial stage in accomplishing something)
peace initiative (opening move in negotiating a peace treaty)
Derivation:
open (make the opening move)
open (begin or set in action, of meetings, speeches, recitals, etc.)
open (start to operate or function or cause to start operating or functioning)
opening (first or beginning)
Sense 2
Meaning:
The act of opening something
Example:
the ray of light revealed his cautious opening of the door
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("opening" is a kind of...):
motility; motion; move; movement (a change of position that does not entail a change of location)
Antonym:
closing (the act of closing something)
Derivation:
open (cause to open or to become open)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Becoming open or being made open
Example:
the opening of his arms was the sign I was waiting for
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("opening" is a kind of...):
change of integrity (the act of changing the unity or wholeness of something)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "opening"):
cut; cutting (the act of penetrating or opening open with a sharp edge)
Derivation:
open (cause to open or to become open)
open (become open)
open (spread out or open from a closed or folded state)
Sense 4
Meaning:
A recognized sequence of moves at the beginning of a game of chess
Example:
he memorized all the important chess openings
Synonyms:
chess opening; opening
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("opening" is a kind of...):
sequence; succession (the action of following in order)
Domain category:
chess; chess game (a board game for two players who move their 16 pieces according to specific rules; the object is to checkmate the opponent's king)
Sense 5
Meaning:
An entrance equipped with a hatch; especially a passageway between decks of a ship
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("opening" is a kind of...):
entrance; entranceway; entree; entry; entryway (something that provides access (to get in or get out))
Meronyms (parts of "opening"):
hatch (a movable barrier covering a hatchway)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "opening"):
escape hatch (hatchway that provides a means of escape in an emergency)
Derivation:
open (have an opening or passage or outlet)
Sense 6
Meaning:
A vacant or unobstructed space that is man-made
Example:
they left a small opening for the cat at the bottom of the door
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("opening" is a kind of...):
artefact; artifact (a man-made object taken as a whole)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "opening"):
window (an opening in a wall or screen that admits light and air and through which customers can be served)
window (a transparent opening in a vehicle that allow vision out of the sides or back; usually is capable of being opened)
grille; lattice; wicket (small opening (like a window in a door) through which business can be transacted)
throat (an opening in the vamp of a shoe at the instep)
spout (an opening that allows the passage of liquids or grain)
slit (a long narrow opening)
embrasure; port; porthole (an opening (in a wall or ship or armored vehicle) for firing through)
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))
neck; neck opening (an opening in a garment for the neck of the wearer; a part of the garment near the wearer's neck)
mouth (the opening of a jar or bottle)
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; issue; outlet; way out (an opening that permits escape or release)
fly; fly front (an opening in a garment that is closed by a zipper or by buttons concealed under a fold of cloth)
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)
Sense 7
Meaning:
An aperture or hole that opens into a bodily cavity
Example:
the orifice into the aorta from the lower left chamber of the heart
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("opening" is a kind of...):
passage; passageway (a path or channel or duct through or along which something may pass)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "opening"):
rima (a narrow elongated opening or fissure between two symmetrical parts)
naris (any of the openings to the nasal cavities that allow air to flow through the cavities to the pharynx)
fontanel; fontanelle; soft spot (any membranous gap between the bones of the cranium in an infant or fetus)
anus (the excretory opening at the end of the alimentary canal)
pylorus (a small circular opening between the stomach and the duodenum)
external orifice; urethral orifice (the orifice through which urine is discharged)
introitus (entrance or opening to a hollow organ or tube (especially the vaginal opening))
cardia (the opening into the stomach and that part of the stomach connected to the esophagus)
fenestra (a small opening covered with membrane (especially one in the bone between the middle and inner ear))
cervix; cervix uteri; uterine cervix (necklike opening to the uterus)
os (a mouth or mouthlike opening)
mouth (the externally visible part of the oral cavity on the face and the system of organs surrounding the opening)
spiracle (a breathing orifice)
porta hepatis (opening for major blood vessels to enter and leave the liver)
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))
aortic orifice (the orifice from the lower left chamber of the heart to the aorta)
blastopore (the opening into the archenteron)
vent (external opening of urinary or genital system of a lower vertebrate)
Derivation:
open (have an opening or passage or outlet)
open (afford access to)
Sense 8
Meaning:
A possible alternative
Example:
bankruptcy is always a possibility
Synonyms:
opening; possibility; possible action
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Hypernyms ("opening" is a kind of...):
alternative; choice; option (one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "opening"):
possible (something that can be done)
Sense 9
Meaning:
The initial part of the introduction
Example:
the opening established the basic theme
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("opening" is a kind of...):
introduction (the first section of a communication)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "opening"):
teaser (an attention-getting opening presented at the start of a television show)
salutation (word of greeting used to begin a letter)
Sense 10
Meaning:
The first performance (as of a theatrical production)
Example:
the opening received good critical reviews
Synonyms:
curtain raising; opening; opening night
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("opening" is a kind of...):
start (the beginning of anything)
Derivation:
opening (first or beginning)
Sense 11
Meaning:
A ceremony accompanying the start of some enterprise
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural events
Hypernyms ("opening" is a kind of...):
ceremonial; ceremonial occasion; ceremony; observance (a formal event performed on a special occasion)
Derivation:
open (begin or set in action, of meetings, speeches, recitals, etc.)
open (start to operate or function or cause to start operating or functioning)
Sense 12
Meaning:
An open or empty space in or between things
Example:
the explosion made a gap in the wall
Synonyms:
gap; opening
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)
Hypernyms ("opening" is a kind of...):
space (an empty area (usually bounded in some way between things))
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "opening"):
window (an opening that resembles a window in appearance or function)
rent; rip; snag; split; tear (an opening made forcibly as by pulling apart)
rift (a gap between cloud masses)
mouth (an opening that resembles a mouth (as of a cave or a gorge))
hole (an opening into or through something)
cleft; crack; crevice; fissure; scissure (a long narrow opening)
chasm (a deep opening in the earth's surface)
breach (an opening (especially a gap in a dike or fortification))
foramen; hiatus (a natural opening or perforation through a bone or a membranous structure)
nodes of Ranvier; Ranvier's nodes (small gaps in the myelin sheath of medullated axons)
diastema (a gap or vacant space between two teeth)
pocket (an opening at the corner or on the side of a billiard table into which billiard balls are struck)
Holonyms ("opening" is a part of...):
Earth's surface; surface (the outermost level of the land or sea)
Derivation:
open (have an opening or passage or outlet)
Sense 13
Meaning:
Opportunity especially for employment or promotion
Example:
there is an opening in the sales department
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Hypernyms ("opening" is a kind of...):
chance; opportunity (a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances)
Derivation:
open (make available)
open (become available)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
First or beginning
Example:
the play's opening scene
Classified under:
Similar:
beginning; first (serving to begin)
first; inaugural; initiative; initiatory; maiden (serving to set in motion)
introductory (serving to open or begin)
starting (appropriate to the beginning or start of an event)
Antonym:
closing (final or ending)
Derivation:
opening (the first of a series of actions)
opening (the first performance (as of a theatrical production))
III. (verb)
Sense 1
-ing form of the verb open
Context examples:
These openings grew in size, the segments diminished.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
"What in the world are those girls about now?" thought Laurie, opening his sleepy eyes to take a good look, for there was something rather peculiar in the appearance of his neighbors.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
Our visitor stammered for a moment, his great hands opening and shutting in his agitation.
(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Issue associated with an obstruction or blockage within any of the device components (e.g. tube, opening, pipe) that results in a restriction of flow.
(Occlusion within Medical Device, Food and Drug Administration)
In May, the southeastern rim of the interior crater wall was washed over by the Pacific Ocean, opening the crater lake to the ocean.
(NASA Shows New Tongan Island Made of Tuff Stuff, Likely to Persist Years, NASA)
Surgical opening of the anterior mediastinum.
(Anterior mediastinotomy, NCI Thesaurus)
As they developed, U. mongoliensis seeds were protected inside a tough, resinous, umbrella-like outer covering, which stayed almost completely closed, opening only to release the seeds.
(Paleontologists find fossil relative of Ginkgo biloba, NSF)
In medicine, a substance used as a drug to treat certain heart conditions and to widen the openings in blood vessels.
(Nitroglycerin, NCI Dictionary)
The Lion went back to the opening where the beasts of the forest were waiting for him and said proudly: You need fear your enemy no longer.
(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)
Methods of detection which do not require penetration of the body or body openings.
(Non-Invasive Cancer Detection, NCI Thesaurus)
