R E F E R E N C E S
Open adj [ME, fr. OE; akin to OHG offan open, OE þp up] [Bef. 12c] 1: having no enclosing or confining barrier: accessible on all or nearly all sides [cattle grazing on an __ range] 2a [1]: being in a position or adjustment to permit passage: not shut or locked [an __ door] [2]: having a barrier [as a door] so adjusted as to allow passage [the house was __] b: having the lips parted [stood there with his mouth wide __] c: not buttoned or zipped [an __ shirt] 3a: completely free from concealment: exposed to general view or knowlede [their hostilities eventually erupted with __ war] b: exposed or vulnerable to attack or question: Subject [__ to doubt] 4a: not covered with a top, roof, or lid [an __ car] [her eyes were __] b: having no protective covering [__ wiring] [an __ wound] 5: not restricted to a particular group or category of participants [__ to the public] [__ housing]: as a: enterable by both amateur and professional contestants [an __ tournament] b: enterable by a registsered voter regardless of political affiliation [an __ primary] 6: fit to be traveled over: presenting no obstacle to passage or view [the __ road] [__ country] 7: having the parts or surfaces laid out in an expanded position: spread out: Unfolded [an __ book] 8a [1]: Low 13 [2]: formed with the tongue in a lower position [Italian has an __ and a close e] b [1]: having clarity and resonance unimpaired by undue tension or constriction of the throat [an __ 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 9a: available to follow or make use of [the only course __ to us] b: not taken up with duties or engagements [keep an hour __ on Friday] c: not finally decided: subject to futher consideration [the salary is __] [an __ question] d: available for a qualified applicant: Vacant [the job is still __] e: remaining available for use or filling until canceled [an __ order for more items] f: availalbe for future purchase [these items are in __ stock] 10a: [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 __ market] 11a: having openings, interruptions, or spaces; as [1]: being porous and friable [__ soil] [2]: sparsely distributed: Scattered [__ 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 __] 12a 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 __ microphone][ esp: ready for business, patronage, or use [the store is __ from 9-5] [the new highway will be __ next week] 14a [1]: characterized by lack of effective regulation of various commercial enterprises [an __ town] [2]: not repressed by legal controls [__ gambling] b: free from checking or hampering restraints [an __ economy] c: relatively unguarded by opponents [passed to an __ teammate] 15: having been opened by a first ante, bet, or bid [the bidding is __] 16 of punctuation: characterized by sparing use esp. of the comma 17a: containing none of its end points [an __ 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 __ set] 18a: being an incomplete electrical circuit b: not allowing the flow of electricity [an __ switch]
-syn see Frank, Liable
2 Open vt [bef. 12c] 1a: to move [as a door] from a closed position b: to make availalbe for entry or passage by turning back [as a barrier] or removing [as a cover or an obstruction] 2a: to make available for or active in a regular function [__ a new store] b: to make accessible for a particular purpose [__ed new land for settlement] [__ the way for changes] c: to initiate access to [a computer file] prior to use 3a: to disclose or expose to view: Reveal b: to make more discerning or responsive: Enlighten [must __ our minds tso the problems] c: to bring into view or come in sight of by changing position 4a: to make an opening in [__ed the boil] b: to loosen and make less compact [__ the soil] 5: to spread out: unfold [__ed the book] 6a: to enter upon: Begin [__ed 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 -vi 1: to become open [the office __ed early] 2a: to spread out: Exapnd [the wound __ed under the strain] b: to beccome disclosed [a beautiful vista __ed before us] 3: to become enlightened or responsive 4: to give access [the rooms __ onto a hall] 5: Speak Out2 [finally he __ed freely on the subject] 6a: to begin a course or activity [the play __s on Tuesday] b: to make a bet, bid, or lead in commencing a round or hand of a card game
3 Open n [13c] 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
[Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 10th Edition. Springfield, MA, USA: Merriam-Webster, Inc. 1995.]
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