Meaning & Definition of Opening in English

1. 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"

2. A ceremony accompanying the start of some enterprise

3. Becoming open or being made open

• "The opening of his arms was the sign i was waiting for"

4. The first performance (as of a theatrical production)

• "The opening received good critical reviews"

5. The act of opening something

• "The ray of light revealed his cautious opening of the door"

6. Opportunity especially for employment or promotion

• "There is an opening in the sales department"

7. The initial part of the introduction

• "The opening established the basic theme"

8. A possible alternative

• "Bankruptcy is always a possibility"

9. An aperture or hole that opens into a bodily cavity

• "The orifice into the aorta from the lower left chamber of the heart"

10. A vacant or unobstructed space that is man-made

• "They left a small opening for the cat at the bottom of the door"

11. An entrance equipped with a hatch

• Especially a passageway between decks of a ship

12. A recognized sequence of moves at the beginning of a game of chess

• "He memorized all the important chess openings"

13. The first of a series of actions

1. First or beginning

• "The memorable opening bars of beethoven's fifth"

• "The play's opening scene"