opening

Sense 1 noun

an open or empty space in or between things

there was a small opening between the trees

Sense 2 adjective

first or beginning

the memorable opening bars of Beethoven's Fifth

Sense 3 noun

a ceremony accompanying the start of some enterprise

Sense 4 noun

becoming open or being made open

the opening of his arms was the sign I was waiting for

Sense 5 noun

the first performance (as of a theatrical production)

the opening received good critical reviews

Sense 6 noun

the act of opening something

the ray of light revealed his cautious opening of the door

Sense 7 noun

opportunity especially for employment or promotion

there is an opening in the sales department

Sense 8 noun

the initial part of the introduction

the opening established the basic theme

Sense 9 noun

a possible alternative

bankruptcy is always a possibility

Sense 10 noun

an aperture or hole that opens into a bodily cavity

the orifice into the aorta from the lower left chamber of the heart

Sense 11 noun

a vacant or unobstructed space that is man-made

they left a small opening for the cat at the bottom of the door

Sense 12 noun

an entrance equipped with a hatch; especially a passageway between decks of a ship

Sense 13 noun

a recognized sequence of moves at the beginning of a game of chess

he memorized all the important chess openings

Sense 14 noun

the first of a series of actions