opening

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   first or beginning

   the memorable opening bars of Beethoven's Fifth

2. 2
   noun

   the act of opening something

   The ray of light revealed their cautious opening of the door.

3. 3
   noun

   becoming open or being made open

   The opening of the 1904 World's Fair Exposition was a sight to behold.

4. 4
   noun

   a recognized sequence of moves at the beginning of a game of chess

   They memorized all the important chess openings.

5. 5
   noun

   a vacant or unobstructed space that is man-made

   they left a small opening for the cat at the bottom of the door

6. 6
   noun

   the initial part of the introduction

   the opening established the basic theme

7. 7
   noun

   the first performance, as of a theatrical production

   The opening received rave reviews.

8. 8
   noun

   an open or empty space in or between things

   there was a small opening between the trees

Etymology

From Middle English openyng, openynge, openunge, from Old English openung (“an opening”), from Proto-West Germanic *opanungu, from Proto-Germanic *upanungō (“an opening”), equivalent to open + -ing. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Eepenge, Epenge (“an opening”), West Frisian iepening (“an opening”), Dutch opening (“an opening”), German Öffnung (“an opening”), Danish åbning (“an opening”), Swedish öppning (“an opening”).