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opening

Pronunciation: /ˈəʊ.pə.nɪŋ/

The English word “opening” has 16 meanings listed here.

adjective

  1. Pertaining to the start or beginning of a series of events.
  2. Of the first period of play, usually up to the fall of the first wicket.
  3. Of the batsman who opens the innings or of a bowler who opens the attack.

noun

  1. An act or instance of making or becoming open.
  2. A gap permitting passage through.
  3. An act or instance of beginning.
  4. The first performance of a show or play by a particular troupe.
  5. The initial period when an art exhibition, fashion show, etc. is first opened, especially the first evening.
  6. The first few measures of a musical composition.
  7. The first few moves in a game.
  8. The initial movement in a market when it opens.
  9. A vacant position, especially in an array.
  10. A time available in a schedule.
  11. An unoccupied employment position.
  12. An opportunity, as in a competitive activity.
  13. In mathematical morphology, the dilation of the erosion of a set.

Etymology

From Middle English openynge, openande, openand, from Old English openiende, from Proto-West Germanic *opanōndī, from Proto-Germanic *upanōndz, present participle of *upanōną (“to open”), equivalent to open + -ing. Cognate with West Frisian iepenjend, Dutch openend, German öffnend, Swedish öppnande, Icelandic opnandi.

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.