first or beginning; the memorable opening bars of Beethoven's Fifth; the play's opening scene'
opening (adj.)
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
[ Syn: gap ]
a vacant or unobstructed space that is man-made; they left a small opening for the cat at the bottom of the door'
an entrance equipped with a hatch; especially a passageway between decks of a ship
a recognized sequence of moves at the beginning of a game of chess; he memorized all the important chess openings
[ Syn: chess opening ]
the first of a series of actions
[ Syn: first step , initiative , opening move ]
a ceremony accompanying the start of some enterprise
becoming open or being made open; the opening of his arms was the sign I was waiting for'
the first performance (as of a theatrical production); the opening received good critical reviews
[ Syn: opening night , curtain raising ]
the act of opening something; the ray of light revealed his cautious opening of the door'
opportunity especially for employment or promotion; there is an opening in the sales department'
the initial part of the introduction; the opening established the basic theme'
a possible alternative; bankruptcy is always a possibility
[ Syn: possibility , possible action ]
an aperture or hole that opens into a bodily cavity; the orifice into the aorta from the lower left chamber of the heart