opening

(a) first or beginning
- the memorable opening bars of Beethoven's Fifth
- the play's opening scene

(n) 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
gap,
(n) a ceremony accompanying the start of some enterprise
(n) becoming open or being made open
- the opening of his arms was the sign I was waiting for
(n) the first performance (as of a theatrical production)
- the opening received good critical reviews
curtain raising, opening night,
(n) the act of opening something
- the ray of light revealed his cautious opening of the door
(n) opportunity especially for employment or promotion
- there is an opening in the sales department
(n) the initial part of the introduction
- the opening established the basic theme
(n) a possible alternative
- bankruptcy is always a possibility
possible action, possibility,
(n) an aperture or hole that opens into a bodily cavity
- the orifice into the aorta from the lower left chamber of the heart
orifice, porta,
(n) a vacant or unobstructed space that is man-made
- they left a small opening for the cat at the bottom of the door
(n) an entrance equipped with a hatch; especially a passageway between decks of a ship hatchway, scuttle,
(n) a recognized sequence of moves at the beginning of a game of chess
- he memorized all the important chess openings
chess opening,
(n) the first of a series of actions first step, opening move, initiative,

gap curtain raising opening night possible action possibility orifice porta hatchway scuttle chess opening first step opening move initiative

closing shutting

opening line opening move opening night