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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

OPEN, a o'pn.
1. Unclosed; not shut; as, the gate is open; an open door or window; an open book; open eyes.
2. Spread; expanded. He received his son with open arms.
3. Unsealed; as an open letter.
4. Not shut or fast; as an open hand.
5. Not covered; as the open air; an open vessel.
6. Not covered with trees; clear; as an open country or field.
7. Not stopped; as an open bottle.
8. Not fenced or obstructed; as an open road.
9. Not frosty; warmer than usual; not freezing severely; as an open winter.
An open and warm winter portendeth a hot and dry summer.
Johnson interprets open, in this passage, by not cloudy, not gloomy. I think the definition wrong. In America, an open winter is one in which the earth is not bound with frost and covered with snow.
10. Public; before a court and its suitors. His testimony was given in open court.
11. Admitting all persons without restraint; free to all comers. He keeps open house at the election.
12. Clear of ice; as, the river or the harbor is open.
13. Plain; apparent; evident; public; not secret or concealed; as an open declaration; open avowal; open shame; open defiance. The nations contend to open war or in open arms.
14. Not wearing disguise; frank; sincere; unreserved; candid; artless.
He was held a man open and of good faith.
His generous, open undesigning heart.
15. Not clouded; not contracted or frowning; having an air of frankness and sincerity; as an open look.
With aspect open shall erect his head.
16. Not hidden; exposed to view.
We are to exercise our thoughts and lay open the treasures of divine truth.
17. Ready to hear or receive what is offered.
His ears are open to their cry. Psalms 34.
18. Free to be employed for redress; not restrained or denied; not precluding any person.
The law is open. Acts 19.
19. Exposed; not protected; without defense. The country is open to the invaders.
- Hath left me open to all injuries.
20. Attentive; employed in inspection.
Thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men - Jeremiah 32.
21. Clear; unobstructed; as an open view.
22. Unsettled; not balanced or closed; as an open account.
Open accounts between merchants.
23. Not closed; free to be debated; as a question open for discussion.
24. In music, an open note is that which a string is tuned to produce.
OPEN, v.t. o'pn.
1. To unclose; to unbar; to unlock; to remove any fastening or cover and set open; as, to open a door or gate; to open a desk.
2. To break the seal of a letter and unfold it.
3. To separate parts that are close; as, to open the lips; to open the mouth or eyes or eyelids; to open a book.
4. To remove a covering from; as, to open a pit.
5. To cut through; to perforate; to lance; as, to open the skin; to open an abscess.
6. To break; to divide; to split or rend; as, the earth was opened in many places by an earthquake; a rock is opened by blasting.
7. To clear; to make by removing obstructions; as, to open a road; to open a passage; the heat of spring opens rivers bound with ice.
8. To spread; to expand; as, to open the hand.
9. To unstop; as, to open a bottle.
10. To begin; to make the first exhibition. The attorney general opens the cause on the part of the king or the state. Homer opens his poem with the utmost simplicity and modesty.
11. To show; to bring to view or knowledge.
The English did adventure far to open the north parts of America.
12. To interpret; to explain.
- While he opened to us the Scriptures. Luke 24.
13. To reveal; to disclose. He opened his mind very freely.
14. To make liberal; as, to open the heart.
15. To make the first discharge of artillery; as, to open a heavy fire on the enemy.
16. To enter on or begin; as to open a negotiation or correspondence; to open a trade with the Indies.
17. To begin to see by the removal of something intercepted the view; as, we sailed round the point and opened the harbor.
OPEN, v.i. o'pn.
1. To unclose itself; to be unclosed; to be parted.
The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram. Psalms 106.
2. To begin to appear. As we sailed round the point, the harbor opened to our view.
3. To commence; to begin. sales of stock open at par.
4. To bark; a term in hunting.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

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

Merriam Webster's

I. adjective (opener; openest) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German offan open, Old English ?p up Date: before 12th century 1. having no enclosing or confining barrier ; accessible on all or nearly all sides <cattle grazing on an open range> 2. a. (1) being in a position or adjustment to permit passage ; not shut or locked <an open door> (2) having a barrier (as a door) so adjusted as to allow passage <the house was open> b. having the lips parted <stood there with his mouth wide open> c. not buttoned or zipped <an open shirt> 3. a. completely free from concealment ; exposed to general view or knowledge <their hostilities eventually erupted with open war> b. exposed or vulnerable to attack or question ; subject <open to doubt> c. being an operation or surgical procedure in which an incision is made such that the tissues are fully exposed 4. a. not covered with a top, roof, or lid <an open car> <her eyes were open> b. having no protective covering <open wiring> <an open wound> 5. not restricted to a particular group or category of participants <open to the public> <open housing>: as a. enterable by both amateur and professional contestants <an open tournament> b. enterable by a registered voter regardless of political affiliation <an open primary> 6. fit to be traveled over ; presenting no obstacle to passage or view <the open road> <open country> 7. having the parts or surfaces laid out in an expanded position ; spread out ; unfolded <an open book> 8. a. (1) low 13 (2) formed with the tongue in a lower position <Italian has an open and a close e> b. (1) having clarity and resonance unimpaired by undue tension or constriction of the throat <an open vocal tone> (2) of a tone produced by an open string or on a wind instrument by the lip without the use of slides, valves, or keys 9. a. available to follow or make use of <the only course open to us> b. not taken up with duties or engagements <keep an hour open on Friday> c. not finally decided ; subject to further consideration <the salary is open> <an open question> d. available for a qualified applicant ; vacant <the job is still open> e. remaining available for use or filling until canceled <an open order for more items> f. available for future purchase <these items are in open stock> g. available for breeding ; not now pregnant <an open heifer> h. not proprietary ; available to third party developers <open source code> 10. a. characterized by ready accessibility and usually generous attitude: as (1) generous in giving (2) willing to hear and consider or to accept and deal with ; responsive (3) free from reserve or pretense ; frank b. accessible to the influx of new factors (as foreign goods) <an open market> 11. a. having openings, interruptions, or spaces <open mesh>: as (1) being porous and friable <open soil> (2) sparsely distributed ; scattered <open population> (3) of a compound having components separated by a space in writing or printing (as opaque projector) b. not made up of a continuous closed circuit of channels <the insect circulatory system is open> 12. a. of an organ pipe not stopped at the top b. of a string on a musical instrument not stopped by the finger 13. being in operation <an open microphone>; especially ready for business, patronage, or use <the store is open from 9 to 5> <the new highway will be open next week> 14. a. (1) characterized by lack of effective regulation of various commercial enterprises <an open town> (2) not repressed by legal controls <open gambling> b. free from checking or hampering restraints <an open economy> c. relatively unguarded by opponents <passed to an open teammate> 15. having been opened by a first ante, bet, or bid <the bidding is open> 16. of punctuation characterized by sparing use especially of the comma 17. a. containing none of its endpoints <an open interval> b. being a set or composed of sets each point of which has a neighborhood all of whose points are contained in the set <the interior of a sphere is an open set> 18. a. being an incomplete electrical circuit b. not allowing the flow of electricity <an open switch> 19. of a universe having insufficient mass to halt expansion gravitationally Synonyms: see frank, liable • open adverb • openly adverb • openness noun II. verb (opened; opening) Date: before 12th century transitive verb 1. a. to move (as a door) from a closed position b. to make available for entry or passage by turning back (as a barrier) or removing (as a cover or an obstruction) 2. a. to make available for or active in a regular function <open a new store> b. to make accessible for a particular purpose <opened new land for settlement> <open the way for changes> c. to initiate access to (a computer file) prior to use 3. a. to disclose or expose to view ; reveal b. to make more discerning or responsive ; enlighten <must open our minds to the problems> c. to bring into view or come in sight of by changing position 4. a. to make an opening in <opened the boil> b. to loosen and make less compact <open the soil> 5. to spread out ; unfold <opened the book> 6. a. to enter upon ; begin <opened the meeting> b. to commence action in a card game by making (a first bid), putting a first bet in (the pot), or playing (a card or suit) as first lead 7. to restore or recall (as an order) from a finally determined state to a state in which the parties are free to prosecute or oppose intransitive verb 1. to become open <the office opened early> 2. a. to spread out ; expand <the wound opened under the strain> b. to become disclosed <a beautiful vista opened before us> 3. to become enlightened or responsive 4. to give access <the rooms open onto a hall> 5. speak out 2 <finally he opened freely on the subject> 6. a. to begin a course or activity <the play opens on Tuesday> b. to make a bet, bid, or lead in commencing a round or hand of a card game 7. to provide the opening performance of a show before the main event • openability noun • openable adjective III. noun Date: 13th century 1. opening 2. open and unobstructed space: as a. open air b. open water 3. an open contest, competition, or tournament 4. a public or unconcealed state or position

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj., v., & n. --adj. 1 not closed or locked or blocked up; allowing entrance or passage or access. 2 a (of a room, field, or other area) having its door or gate in a position allowing access, or part of its confining boundary removed. b (of a container) not fastened or sealed; in a position or with the lid etc. in a position allowing access to the inside part. 3 unenclosed, unconfined, unobstructed (the open road; open views). 4 a uncovered, bare, exposed (open drain; open wound). b Sport (of a goal mouth or other object of attack) unprotected, vulnerable. 5 undisguised, public, manifest; not exclusive or limited (open scandal; open hostilities). 6 expanded, unfolded, or spread out (had the map open on the table). 7 (of a fabric) not close; with gaps or intervals. 8 a (of a person) frank and communicative. b (of the mind) accessible to new ideas; unprejudiced or undecided. 9 a (of an exhibition, shop, etc.) accessible to visitors or customers; ready for business. b (of a meeting) admitting all, not restricted to members etc. 10 a (of a race, competition, scholarship, etc.) unrestricted as to who may compete. b (of a champion, scholar, etc.) having won such a contest. 11 (of government) conducted in an informative manner receptive to enquiry, criticism, etc., from the public. 12 (foll. by to) a willing to receive (is open to offers). b (of a choice, offer, or opportunity) still available (there are three courses open to us). c likely to suffer from or be affected by (open to abuse). 13 a (of the mouth) with lips apart, esp. in surprise or incomprehension. b (of the ears or eyes) eagerly attentive. 14 Mus. a (of a string) allowed to vibrate along its whole length. b (of a pipe) unstopped at each end. c (of a note) sounded from an open string or pipe. 15 (of an electrical circuit) having a break in the conducting path. 16 (of the bowels) not constipated. 17 (of a return ticket) not restricted as to day of travel. 18 (of a cheque) not crossed. 19 (of a boat) without a deck. 20 (of a river or harbour) free of ice. 21 (of the weather or winter) free of frost. 22 Phonet. a (of a vowel) produced with a relatively wide opening of the mouth. b (of a syllable) ending in a vowel. 23 (of a town, city, etc.) not defended even if attacked. --v. 1 tr. & intr. make or become open or more open. 2 a tr. change from a closed or fastened position so as to allow access (opened the door; opened the box). b intr. (of a door, lid, etc.) have its position changed to allow access (the door opened slowly). 3 tr. remove the sealing or fastening element of (a container) to get access to the contents (opened the envelope). 4 intr. (foll. by into, on to, etc.) (of a door, room, etc.) afford access as specified (opened on to a large garden). 5 a tr. start or establish or set going (a business, activity, etc.). b intr. be initiated; make a start (the session opens tomorrow; the story opens with a murder). c tr. (of a counsel in a lawcourt) make a preliminary statement in (a case) before calling witnesses. 6 tr. a spread out or unfold (a map, newspaper, etc.). b (often absol.) refer to the contents of (a book). 7 intr. (often foll. by with) (of a person) begin speaking, writing, etc. (he opened with a warning). 8 intr. (of a prospect) come into view; be revealed. 9 tr. reveal or communicate (one's feelings, intentions, etc.). 10 tr. make (one's mind, heart, etc.) more sympathetic or enlightened. 11 tr. ceremonially declare (a building etc.) to be completed and in use. 12 tr. break up (ground) with a plough etc. 13 tr. cause evacuation of (the bowels). 14 Naut. a tr. get a view of by change of position. b intr. come into full view. --n. 1 (prec. by the) a open space or country or air. b public notice or view; general attention (esp. into the open). 2 an open championship, competition, or scholarship. Phrases and idioms: be open with speak frankly to. keep open house see HOUSE. open air (usu. prec. by the) a free or unenclosed space outdoors. open-air (attrib.) out of doors. open-and-shut (of an argument, case, etc.) straightforward and conclusive. open-armed cordial; warmly receptive. open book a person who is easily understood. open day a day when the public may visit a place normally closed to them. open door free admission of foreign trade and immigrants. open-door adj. open, accessible, public. open the door to see DOOR. open-ended having no predetermined limit or boundary. open a person's eyes see EYE. open-eyed 1 with the eyes open. 2 alert, watchful. open-faced having a frank or ingenuous expression. open-handed generous. open-handedly generously. open-handedness generosity. open-hearted frank and kindly. open-heartedness an open-hearted quality. open-hearth process a process of steel manufacture, using a shallow reverberatory furnace. open-heart surgery surgery with the heart exposed and the blood made to bypass it. open house welcome or hospitality for all visitors. open ice ice through which navigation is possible. open letter a letter, esp. of protest, addressed to an individual and published in a newspaper or journal. open market an unrestricted market with free competition of buyers and sellers. open-minded accessible to new ideas; unprejudiced. open-mindedly in an open-minded manner. open-mindedness the quality of being open-minded. open-mouthed with the mouth open, esp. in surprise. open out 1 unfold; spread out. 2 develop, expand. 3 become communicative. 4 accelerate. open-plan (usu. attrib.) (of a house, office, etc.) having large undivided rooms. open prison a prison with the minimum of physical restraints on prisoners. open question a matter on which differences of opinion are legitimate. open-reel (of a tape recorder) having reels of tape requiring individual threading, as distinct from a cassette. open sandwich a sandwich without a top slice of bread. open sea an expanse of sea away from land. open season the season when restrictions on the killing of game etc. are lifted. open secret a supposed secret that is known to many people. open sesame see SESAME. open shop 1 a business etc. where employees do not have to be members of a trade union (opp. closed shop). 2 this system. open society a society with wide dissemination of information and freedom of belief. Open University (in the UK) a university that teaches mainly by broadcasting and correspondence, and is open to those without formal academic qualifications. open up 1 unlock (premises). 2 make accessible. 3 reveal; bring to notice. 4 accelerate esp. a motor vehicle. 5 begin shooting or sounding. open verdict a verdict affirming that a crime has been committed but not specifying the criminal or (in case of violent death) the cause. with open arms see ARM(1). Derivatives: openable adj. openness n. Etymology: OE open

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Letter Let"ter, n. [OE. lettre, F. lettre, OF. letre, fr. L. littera, litera, a letter; pl., an epistle, a writing, literature, fr. linere, litum, to besmear, to spread or rub over; because one of the earliest modes of writing was by graving the characters upon tablets smeared over or covered with wax. --Pliny, xiii. 11. See Liniment, and cf. Literal.] 1. A mark or character used as the representative of a sound, or of an articulation of the human organs of speech; a first element of written language. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew. --Luke xxiii. 38. 2. A written or printed communication; a message expressed in intelligible characters on something adapted to conveyance, as paper, parchment, etc.; an epistle. The style of letters ought to be free, easy, and natural. --Walsh. 3. A writing; an inscription. [Obs.] None could expound what this letter meant. --Chaucer. 4. Verbal expression; literal statement or meaning; exact signification or requirement. We must observe the letter of the law, without doing violence to the reason of the law and the intention of the lawgiver. --Jer. Taylor. I broke the letter of it to keep the sense. --Tennyson. 5. (Print.) A single type; type, collectively; a style of type. Under these buildings . . . was the king's printing house, and that famous letter so much esteemed. --Evelyn. 6. pl. Learning; erudition; as, a man of letters. 7. pl. A letter; an epistle. [Obs.] --Chaucer. Dead letter, Drop letter, etc. See under Dead, Drop, etc. Letter book, a book in which copies of letters are kept. Letter box, a box for the reception of letters to be mailed or delivered. Letter carrier, a person who carries letters; a postman; specif., an officer of the post office who carries letters to the persons to whom they are addressed, and collects letters to be mailed. Letter cutter, one who engraves letters or letter punches. Letter lock, a lock that can not be opened when fastened, unless certain movable lettered rings or disks forming a part of it are in such a position (indicated by a particular combination of the letters) as to permit the bolt to be withdrawn. A strange lock that opens with AMEN. --Beau. & Fl. Letter paper, paper for writing letters on; especially, a size of paper intermediate between note paper and foolscap. See Paper. Letter punch, a steel punch with a letter engraved on the end, used in making the matrices for type. Letters of administration (Law), the instrument by which an administrator or administratrix is authorized to administer the goods and estate of a deceased person. Letter of attorney, Letter of credit, etc. See under Attorney, Credit, etc. Letter of license, a paper by which creditors extend a debtor's time for paying his debts. Letters close or clause (Eng. Law.), letters or writs directed to particular persons for particular purposes, and hence closed or sealed on the outside; -- distinguished from letters patent. --Burrill. Letters of orders (Eccl.), a document duly signed and sealed, by which a bishop makes it known that he has regularly ordained a certain person as priest, deacon, etc. Letters patent, overt, or open (Eng. Law), a writing executed and sealed, by which power and authority are granted to a person to do some act, or enjoy some right; as, letters patent under the seal of England. Letter-sheet envelope, a stamped sheet of letter paper issued by the government, prepared to be folded and sealed for transmission by mail without an envelope. Letters testamentary (Law), an instrument granted by the proper officer to an executor after probate of a will, authorizing him to act as executor. Letter writer. (a) One who writes letters. (b) A machine for copying letters. (c) A book giving directions and forms for the writing of letters.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Open O"pen, a. [AS. open; akin to D. open, OS. opan, G. offan, Icel. opinn, Sw. ["o]ppen, Dan. aaben, and perh. to E. up. Cf. Up, and Ope.] 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 Note: 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 ["a]n f["a]r is open as compared with the [=a] in s[=a]y. (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. The open air, the air out of doors. Open chain. (Chem.) See Closed chain, under Chain. Open circuit (Elec.), a conducting circuit which is incomplete, or interrupted at some point; -- opposed to an uninterrupted, or closed circuit. Open communion, communion in the Lord's supper not restricted to persons who have been baptized by immersion. Cf. Close communion, under Close, a. Open diapason (Mus.), a certain stop in an organ, in which the pipes or tubes are formed like the mouthpiece of a flageolet at the end where the wind enters, and are open at the other end. Open flank (Fort.), the part of the flank covered by the orillon. Open-front furnace (Metal.), a blast furnace having a forehearth. Open harmony (Mus.), harmony the tones of which are widely dispersed, or separated by wide intervals. Open hawse (Naut.), a hawse in which the cables are parallel or slightly divergent. Cf. Foul hawse, under Hawse. Open hearth (Metal.), the shallow hearth of a reverberatory furnace. Open-hearth furnace, a reverberatory furnace; esp., a kind of reverberatory furnace in which the fuel is gas, used in manufacturing steel. Open-hearth process (Steel Manuf.), a process by which melted cast iron is converted into steel by the addition of wrought iron, or iron ore and manganese, and by exposure to heat in an open-hearth furnace; -- also called the Siemens-Martin process, from the inventors. Open-hearth steel, steel made by an open-hearth process; -- also called Siemens-Martin steel. Open newel. (Arch.) See Hollow newel, under Hollow. Open pipe (Mus.), a pipe open at the top. It has a pitch about an octave higher than a closed pipe of the same length. Open-timber roof (Arch.), a roof of which the constructional parts, together with the under side of the covering, or its lining, are treated ornamentally, and left to form the ceiling of an apartment below, as in a church, a public hall, and the like. Open vowel or consonant. See Open, a., 9. Note: 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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Open O"pen, n. 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 open, in full view; without concealment; openly. [Obs.]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Open O"pen v. t. [imp. & p. p. Opened; p. pr. & vb. n. Opening.] [AS. openian. See Open,a.] 1. To make or set open; to render free of access; to unclose; to unbar; to unlock; to remove any fastening or covering from; as, to open a door; to open a box; to open a room; to open a letter. And all the windows of my heart I open to the day. --Whittier. 2. To spread; to expand; as, to open the hand. 3. To disclose; to reveal; to interpret; to explain. The king opened himself to some of his council, that he was sorry for the earl's death. --Bacon. Unto thee have I opened my cause. --Jer. xx. 12. While he opened to us the Scriptures. --Luke xxiv. 32. 4. To make known; to discover; also, to render available or accessible for settlements, trade, etc. The English did adventure far for to open the North parts of America. --Abp. Abbot. 5. To enter upon; to begin; as, to open a discussion; to open fire upon an enemy; to open trade, or correspondence; to open a case in court, or a meeting. 6. To loosen or make less compact; as, to open matted cotton by separating the fibers. To open one's mouth, to speak. To open up, to lay open; to discover; to disclose. Poetry that had opened up so many delightful views into the character and condition of our ``bold peasantry, their country's pride.'' --Prof. Wilson.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Open O"pen, v. i. 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's 1913 Dictionary

Audience Au"di*ence, n. [F. audience, L. audientia, fr. audire to hear. See Audible, a.] 1. The act of hearing; attention to sounds. Thou, therefore, give due audience, and attend. --Milton. 2. Admittance to a hearing; a formal interview, esp. with a sovereign or the head of a government, for conference or the transaction of business. According to the fair play of the world, Let me have audience: I am sent to speak. --Shak. 3. An auditory; an assembly of hearers. Also applied by authors to their readers. Fit audience find, though few. --Milton. He drew his audience upward to the sky. --Dryden. Court of audience, or Audience court (Eng.), a court long since disused, belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury; also, one belonging to the Archbishop of York. --Mozley & W. In general (or open) audience, publicly. To give audience, to listen; to admit to an interview.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(opens, opening, opened) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. If you open something such as a door, window, or lid, or if it opens, its position is changed so that it no longer covers a hole or gap. He opened the window and looked out... The church doors would open and the crowd would surge out. ? close, shut VERB: V n, V • Open is also an adjective. ...an open window... A door had been forced open. ADJ 2. If you open something such as a bottle, box, parcel, or envelope, you move, remove, or cut part of it so you can take out what is inside. The Inspector opened the packet of cigarettes... The capsules are fiddly to open. VERB: V n, V n • Open is also an adjective. ...an open bottle of milk... I tore the letter open. ADJ • Open up means the same as open. He opened up a cage and lifted out a 6ft python. PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), also V n P 3. If you open something such as a book, an umbrella, or your hand, or if it opens, the different parts of it move away from each other so that the inside of it can be seen. He opened the heavy Bible... The officer's mouth opened, showing white, even teeth. VERB: V n, V • Open is also an adjective. Without warning, Bardo smacked his fist into his open hand... His mouth was a little open, as if he'd started to scream. ADJ • Open out means the same as open. Keith took a map from the dashboard and opened it out on his knees. ...oval tables which open out to become circular. PHRASAL VERB: V n P, V P, also V P n (not pron) 4. If you open a computer file, you give the computer an instruction to display it on the screen. (COMPUTING) Double click on the icon to open the file. VERB: V n 5. When you open your eyes or your eyes open, you move your eyelids upwards, for example when you wake up, so that you can see. When I opened my eyes I saw a man with an axe standing at the end of my bed... His eyes were opening wide. VERB: V n, V • Open is also an adjective. As soon as he saw that her eyes were open he sat up. ADJ 6. If you open your arms, you stretch them wide apart in front of you, usually in order to put them round someone. She opened her arms and gave me a big hug. VERB: V n 7. If you describe a person or their character as open, you mean they are honest and do not want or try to hide anything or to deceive anyone. He had always been open with her and she always felt she would know if he lied... She has an open, trusting nature. ADJ • openness ...a relationship based on honesty and openness. 8. If you describe a situation, attitude, or way of behaving as open, you mean it is not kept hidden or secret. The action is an open violation of the Vienna Convention... Hearing the case in open court is only one part of the judicial process. ADJ: ADJ n • openness ...the new climate of political openness. 9. If you are open to suggestions or ideas, you are ready and willing to consider or accept them. They are open to suggestions on how working conditions might be improved. = receptive ADJ: v-link ADJ to n 10. If you say that a system, person, or idea is open to something such as abuse or criticism, you mean they might receive abuse or criticism because of their qualities, effects, or actions. The system, though well-meaning, is open to abuse... = susceptible ADJ: v-link ADJ to n 11. If you say that a fact or question is open to debate, interpretation, or discussion, you mean that people are uncertain whether it is true, what it means, or what the answer is. It is an open question how long that commitment can last. ADJ: oft v-link ADJ to n 12. If people open something such as a blocked road or a border, or if it opens, people can then pass along it or through it. The rebels have opened the road from Monrovia to the Ivory Coast... The solid rank of police officers lining the courtroom opened to let them pass. ? close VERB: V n, V • Open is also an adjective. We were part of an entire regiment that had nothing else to do but to keep that highway open. ADJ • Open up means the same as open. As rescue workers opened up roads today, it became apparent that some small towns were totally devastated... When the Berlin Wall came down it wasn't just the roads that opened up but the waterways too. PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), V P, also V n P 13. If a place opens into another, larger place, you can move from one directly into the other. The corridor opened into a low smoky room. VERB: V into/onto/to n • Open out means the same as open. ...narrow streets opening out into charming squares. PHRASAL VERB: V P into/onto/to n 14. An open area is a large area that does not have many buildings or trees in it. Officers will also continue their search of nearby open ground. ADJ: usu ADJ n 15. An open structure or object is not covered or enclosed. Don't leave a child alone in a room with an open fire. ...open sandwiches. ADJ: ADJ n 16. An open wound is one from which a liquid such as blood is coming. ADJ: usu ADJ n 17. If you open your shirt or coat, you undo the buttons or pull down the zip. I opened my coat and let him see the belt. VERB: V n • Open is also an adjective. The top can be worn buttoned up or open over a T-shirt. ADJ: ADJ n, v-link ADJ 18. When a shop, office, or public building opens or is opened, its doors are unlocked and the public can go in. Banks closed on Friday afternoon and did not open again until Monday morning. ...a gang of three who'd apparently been lying in wait for him to open the shop. ...opening and closing times. VERB: V, V n, V-ing • Open is also an adjective. His shop is open Monday through Friday, 9am to 6pm. ADJ 19. When a public building, factory, or company opens or when someone opens it, it starts operating for the first time. The original station opened in 1754... The complex opens to the public tomorrow... They are planning to open a factory in Eastern Europe... ? close, shut VERB: V, V to n, V n • Open is also an adjective. ...any operating subsidy required to keep the pits open. ADJ: v-link ADJ • opening (openings) He was there, though, for the official opening. N-COUNT: usu sing 20. If something such as a meeting or series of talks opens, or if someone opens it, it begins. ...an emergency session of the Russian Parliament due to open later this morning... They are now ready to open negotiations. VERB: V, V n • opening ...a communique issued at the opening of the talks. N-SING: the N of n 21. If an event such as a meeting or discussion opens with a particular activity or if a particular activity opens an event, that activity is the first thing that happens or is dealt with. You can also say that someone such as a speaker or singer opens by doing a particular thing. The service opened with a hymn... I opened by saying, 'Honey, you look sensational.'... Pollard opened the conversation with some small talk. = begin ? end VERB: V with n, V by -ing, V n with n, also V n by -ing 22. On the stock exchange, the price at which currencies, shares, or commodities open is their value at the start of that day's trading. (BUSINESS) Gold declined $2 in Zurich to open at 385.50... In Paris and Milan, the dollar opened almost unchanged. ? close VERB: V prep/adv, V adj 23. When a film, play, or other public event opens, it begins to be shown, be performed, or take place for a limited period of time. A photographic exhibition opens at the Royal College of Art on Wednesday... VERB: V • opening He is due to attend the opening of the Asian Games on Saturday. N-SING: the N of n 24. If you open an account with a bank or a commercial organization, you begin to use their services. He tried to open an account at the branch of his bank nearest to his workplace. VERB: V n 25. If an opportunity or choice is open to you, you are able to do a particular thing if you choose to. There are a wide range of career opportunities open to young people. ADJ: v-link ADJ to n 26. To open opportunities or possibilities means the same as to open them up. The chief of naval operations wants to open opportunities for women in the Navy... A series of fortunate opportunities opened to him. VERB: V n, V 27. You can use open to describe something that anyone is allowed to take part in or accept. A recent open meeting of College members revealed widespread dissatisfaction... A portfolio approach would keep entry into the managerial profession open and flexible. ...an open invitation. ADJ 28. If something such as an offer or job is open, it is available for someone to accept or apply for. The offer will remain open until further notice. ADJ: v-link ADJ see also opening 6 29. If you do something in the open, you do it out of doors rather than in a house or other building. Many are sleeping in the open because they have no shelter. PHRASE: PHR after v 30. If an attitude or situation is in the open or out in the open, people know about it and it is no longer kept secret. The medical service had advised us to keep it a secret, but we wanted it in the open. PHRASE: usu v-link PHR 31. If something is wide open, it is open to its full extent. The child had left the inner door wide open. PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR 32. If you say that a competition, race, or election is wide open, you mean that anyone could win it, because there is no competitor who seems to be much better than the others. The competition has been thrown wide open by the absence of the world champion. PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v 33. with open arms: see arm to open the door: see door to keep your eyes open: see eye with your eyes open: see eye to open your eyes: see eye to open fire: see fire to open your heart: see heart the heavens open: see heaven an open mind: see mind to open your mind: see mind to keep your options open: see option

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

o'-p'-n: In the Old Testament represents chiefly pathach, but also other words, as galah, "to uncover"; of the opening of the eyes in vision, etc. (thus Balaam, Nu 22:31; 24:4; compare Job 33:16; 36:10; Ps 119:18; Jer 32:11,14). In the New Testament the usual word is anoigo (of opening of mouth, eyes, heavens, doors, etc.). A peculiar word, trachelizomai (literally, to have the neck bent back, to be laid bare), is used for "laid open" before God in Heb 4:13.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. 1. Unclose, lay open, make open, render free of access. 2. Spread, expand. 3. Exhibit, explain, interpret. 4. Begin, commence, enter upon, initiate. 5. Show, bring to knowledge. 6. Reveal, disclose. 7. Make liberal, liberalize. II. v. n. 1. Part, be unclosed, be parted, be sundered, be severed. 2. Come into view, begin to appear. 3. Begin, commence. III. a. 1. Unclosed, uncovered. 2. Expanded, extended, unclosed, spread. 3. Frank, unreserved, candid, ingenuous, undisguised, undesigning, artless, undissembling, sincere, guileless, fair, honest, single-minded, above-board, open-hearted, hearty, cordial. 4. Liberal, generous, munificent, bountiful, open-handed, free, bounteous. 5. Exposed, unprotected, undefended. 6. Clear, unobstructed. 7. Unenclosed, accessible, public, unrestricted, free to all. 8. Unsettled, not adjusted. 9. Mild, moderate. 10. Plain, evident, apparent, laid bare, obvious. 11. Fully prepared, attentive. 12. Undetermined, to be debated, debatable.

Moby Thesaurus

Spartan, abandoned, aboveboard, absolute, accented, acceptable, accessible, activate, admissible, admissive, admissory, adumbrate, advertise, affirmed, afford, agape, agreeable, air, ajar, aloof, altruistic, alveolar, ambiguous, amenable, amiable, announce, announced, apical, apico-alveolar, apico-dental, apparent, approachable, appropriate, arguable, articulated, artless, ascetic, assimilated, at issue, attainable, austere, authentic, available, back, bald, bare, barytone, be a gas, be a hit, begin, beholdable, beneficent, bighearted, bilabial, bill, billow, blatant, bluff, blunt, bomb, bona fide, born yesterday, bounteous, bountiful, branch, branch out, brazen, breach, break, break the seal, bring out, bring to light, broach, broad, broadcast, broken, brought to notice, brusque, cacuminal, campestral, campestrian, candid, central, cerebral, champaign, charitable, check, checked, childlike, chink, circulated, clear, cleared, cleave, close, come-at-able, commence, common, common knowledge, common property, commonplace, communicate, communicative, conditional, conditioned, confiding, consonant, consonantal, conspicuous, contingent, continuant, contribute, conversable, cordial, cover, crack, crevasse, current, cut, cut apart, cut open, debatable, declared, dehiscent, deltoid, demonstrative, dental, denuded, dependent, depending, deploy, deserted, detached, detectable, develop, diffused, dilate, direct, discernible, disclose, disclosed, disconnected, discontinuous, discover, discrete, dismask, dispart, disperse, display, disposed, disrupt, disseminated, dissimilated, distend, distributed, ditch, divaricate, divide, divulge, dorsal, downright, dramatize, draw the veil, dry, dubious, dubitable, dull, effusive, embark, employable, equivocal, establish, evident, exhibit, expand, expansive, explain, explicit, expose, exposed, exposed to view, extend, extended, extensive, extroverted, fail, fair, fair and square, fan, fan out, fan-shape, fan-shaped, fanlike, fanned, fanning, feature, findable, fissure, fit, flabelliform, flagrant, flare, flared, flaring, flat, flexible, flop, fly open, forsaken, forthright, foursquare, fracture, frank, frankhearted, free, free hand, free-acting, free-going, free-moving, free-speaking, free-spoken, free-tongued, freehanded, freehearted, friendly, front, full, furnish, furrow, gap, gaping, gapped, gash, generous, genial, genuine, get, get going, get under way, getatable, gettable, giving, glaring, glide, glossal, glottal, godforsaken, good-faith, gossipy, gracious, greathearted, groove, guileless, guttural, handsome, hanging out, hard, headline, heart-to-heart, hearty, heavy, high, hint, hole, homely, homespun, honest, hospitable, humanitarian, idle, illimitable, imbibitory, impart, impressionable, in circulation, in evidence, in full view, in plain sight, in print, in question, in suspense, in the balance, in view, inaugurate, incise, inclined, incoherent, inconsistent, indecisive, influenceable, ingenu, ingenuous, ingestive, initiate, innocent, insight, intonated, introduce, intromissive, intromittent, invitatory, inviting, kick off, labial, labiodental, labiovelar, large, largehearted, lateral, launch, lavish, lax, lay bare, lay open, lean, leisure, leisured, let daylight in, let out, liable, liberal, light, limitless, lingual, liquid, low, made public, magnanimous, make a hit, make known, make plain, malleable, manifest, mantle, matter-of-fact, melodramatize, mid, monophthongal, moot, mount, movable, munificent, muted, naive, naked, narrow, nasal, nasalized, natural, navigable, neat, neighborly, newsy, no strings, nonadherent, nonadhesive, noncoherent, noncohesive, nonimmune, noticeable, obnoxious, observable, obtainable, obvious, occlusive, offer, on the level, on the square, on the up-and-up, ope, open a show, open air, open and aboveboard, open as day, open fire, open to, open to all, open to view, open up, open-handed, open-minded, openhanded, openhearted, operative, out-of-doors, outcropping, outdoors, outgoing, outland, outside, outspoken, outspread, outstretch, outstretched, overgrow, overrun, overspread, overt, oxytone, palatal, palatalized, palpable, part, passable, patent, patulous, peeled, pendent, pending, penetrable, perceivable, perceptible, perfect, perforate, persuadable, persuasible, pervious, pharyngeal, pharyngealized, phonemic, phonetic, phonic, pierce, pitch, pitched, plain, plain-speaking, plain-spoken, plastic, pleasing, plenary, pliable, pliant, posttonic, practicable, predisposed, premiere, present, preview, princely, problematic, proclaimed, procurable, produce, profuse, prone, propagated, proper, prosaic, prosing, provide, public, publish, published, pull out, pure, put on, raise, raise the curtain, ramify, reachable, receivable, receptible, receptive, recipient, recognizable, release, rent, reported, responsive, retired, retroflex, reveal, revealed, rift, ringent, rip, rive, roomy, round, rounded, rupture, rustic, scenarize, securable, seeable, self-revealing, self-revelatory, semiretired, semivowel, sensitive, separate, set in motion, set the stage, set up, severe, shadow, show, show forth, show up, showing, simple, simple-speaking, simplehearted, simpleminded, sincere, single-hearted, single-minded, sit, slash, slit, slot, sober, sociable, soft, sonant, spacious, spare, splay, splayed, splaying, split, spraddle, spraddled, spraddling, sprangle, sprangled, sprangling, sprawl, sprawling, sprawly, spread, spread like wildfire, spread out, spreading, spring open, square, square-dealing, square-shooting, stage, star, stark, start, stated, stintless, stopped, straight, straight-out, straight-shooting, straightforward, stressed, stretch out, stretched-out, strip bare, stripped, strong, suasible, subject, succeed, suggest, suggestible, suitable, surd, susceptible, suspenseful, swayable, swell, swing open, syllabic, talkative, tap, tear, tear open, telecast, televised, tenantless, tense, tenuous, the open, the out-of-doors, theatricalize, thick, throaty, throw open, to be had, to be seen, tonal, tonic, transparent, trench, trustful, trusting, try out, twangy, unaccented, unadhesive, unadorned, unaffected, unbar, unbarred, unblock, unblocked, unbolt, unbolted, unbooked, unbound, unbounded, uncertain, unchecked, uncircumscribed, unclassified, uncloak, unclog, unclogged, unclosed, unclothe, unclouded, uncluttered, uncoherent, uncohesive, uncommitted, unconcealed, unconditional, unconditioned, unconfined, unconnected, unconstrained, uncork, uncounted, uncover, uncovered, undecided, undefended, undetermined, undisguised, undissembled, undissembling, undo, undrape, unencumbered, unequivocal, unestablished, unfasten, unfastened, unfilled, unfixed, unfold, unfolded, unfortified, unfurl, ungrudging, unguarded, unhampered, unhidden, unhindered, unimaginative, unimpeded, uninhabited, uninhibited, unjoined, unkennel, unlatch, unlimited, unlock, unlocked, unmanned, unmask, unmeasured, unobstructed, unoccupied, unpack, unpeopled, unpopulated, unprotected, unqualified, unrepressed, unreserved, unresolved, unrestrained, unrestricted, unreticent, unroll, unrounded, unscheduled, unscreen, unseal, unsealed, unsecretive, unselfish, unsettled, unsheathe, unsheltered, unshrinking, unshroud, unshut, unsigned, unsilent, unsophisticated, unsparing, unstaffed, unstinted, unstinting, unstop, unstopped, unstressed, unsuppressed, unsuspicious, untaken, untenacious, untenanted, untended, untie, untold, unvarnished, unveil, unwary, unwrap, up for grabs, up-and-up, usable, vacant, velar, veritable, viewable, visible, visual, vocalic, vocoid, voiced, voiceless, vowel, vowellike, warm, warmhearted, weak, welcoming, well-known, wide, wide open, wide-open, widely known, widen, widespread, willing, within reach, without, without strings, witnessable, yawning, yield