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Added 9 October 2026

opening

/ˈəʊ.pə.nɪŋ/ verb

In Latin: apertūra, forāmen Wiktionary

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about opening at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

present participle and gerund of open

adjective

Pertaining to the start or beginning of a series of events.
The opening theme of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony is, perhaps, the most recognizable in all of European art music.
Of the first period of play, usually up to the fall of the first wicket.
Of the batsman who opens the innings or of a bowler who opens the attack.

noun

An act or instance of making or becoming open.
The daily openings of the day lily bloom gives it its name.
A gap permitting passage through.
A salamander darted out of an opening in the rocks.
An act or instance of beginning.
There have been few factory and store openings in the US lately.

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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