o·pen·cast /'əupənkɑːstɪl-kæst/ adj where minerals, especially coal, are dug from an open hole in the ground and not from a deep passage: opencast mines/mining → compare STRIP MINING
Open 'College, the an organization in the UK which gives national qualifications for adult education. It consists of further education colleges, sixth form colleges, universities, trade unions, some businesses, and local education authorities. Its official name is The National Open College Network (NOCN). → compare OPEN UNIVERSITY
open day also open house AmE — n a day on which a college, theatre, organization etc opens its doors to the public to allow them to see what work is done in places to which they are not usually admitted
open-ended adj without any clear end, aim, or time limit set in advance: an open-ended discussion | an open-ended housing policy (=which may change according to needs)
o·pen·er /ˈəʊpənər/ n 1 (usually in comb.) a person or thing that opens something: a bottle opener 2 an opening (OPEN) BATS-MAN in cricket
open-eyed adj, adv with one's eyes wide open, especially as an expression of surprise: to stare open-eyed in disbelief
open 'government n [U] a system of government in which there is little secrecy and where information is freely available
open-'handed adj generous; an open-handed offer of help
—~ly adv —~ness n [U]
o·pen·heart·ed /,əupənˈhaɪtɪd·‖-ər-/ adj generous; freely giving or given —ly adv —ness n [U]
open-heart 'surgery n [U] a medical operation in which the heart is caused to stop pumping blood for a time and is cut open to be examined and treated
open 'house n [U] 1 a state of always welcoming visitors at any time: It's always open house round at the Collinses. | We keep open house at Christmas for the children's friends. 2 [C] AmE for OPEN DAY
opening¹ /'əʊpənɪŋ/ n 1 the act of becoming or making open, especially officially: the opening of a new university | shop opening hours 2 [(in)] a hole or clear space; GAP: an opening in the fence/in the clouds 3 [(for)] a favourable set of conditions (for); OPPORTUNITY: good openings for business 4 [(at, in)] an unfilled job position; VACANCY: There are no openings for secretaries at the bank at present.
opening² adj [A] first; beginning: her opening words | the opening night of a new play | the opening lineup (=starting players) for today's game
opening ,hours n [P] the time during which a building, especially a PUB or restaurant, is open to the public: 'What are your opening hours?' '10.30 a.m. to 11 p.m.'
opening time n [C;U] the time at which a business opens, especially the time at which a bar or PUB starts serving drinks
opening-up n [U] 1 the action of making possible the development of a place: New roads and railways paved the way for the opening-up of the interior of Australia. 2 the situation of becoming more free or less limited: We hope to see an opening-up of relations between Albania and the EU.
open 'letter n a letter addressed to a particular person but meant for the general public to see, and often printed in a newspaper. People write open letters when they want others to know about a situation that they think is important, or they want to answer publicly a charge that has been made against them. Open letters are usually written by and to well-known people.
o·pen·ly /'əʊpənli/ adv not secretly: They talked openly about their plans. | He openly admits that he misled the public. | a speech openly attacking the government —ness n [U]
open 'market n [the] on the open market available for anyone to buy: We'll have to put it on the open market.
open 'marriage n a marriage in which both partners accept that they will have sex with other people
open 'mike n [U] AmE a time when anyone is allowed to tell jokes, sing etc in a bar or NIGHTCLUB
open-'minded adj willing to consider new arguments, ideas, opinions etc: open-minded parents | I'm quite open-minded about this subject. → compare NARROW-MINDED —-ly adv —-ness n [U]
open-plan adj (of a large room) not divided into a lot of little rooms: modern open-plan offices
open-mouthed /ˌəʊpən ˈmaʊðd/ adj. adv with one's mouth wide open, especially in surprise or shock
'open 'primary also crossover primary n an election in the US, held to determine who will represent each party in the final election, in which voters may vote for a CANDIDATE (a person running for political office) from either party: Bush supporters fear that Democrats voting in the State's open primary will vote for the opposing Republican candidates in an effort to weaken Bush's position. → compare CLOSED PRIMARY
open 'prison n a prison which does not restrict prisoners as much as ordinary prisons, and which takes only those who are less violent and less likely to try to escape
,open 'sandwich BrE  $ \parallel $,open-faced 'sandwich AmE — n a single piece of bread with various foods on top of it
'open, season n [(for, on)] the period of each year when certain animals or fish may be killed for sport: the open season for fishing → opposite CLOSE SEASON
open 'secret n something supposed to be a secret but in fact known to everyone
open 'sesame n [(to)] often humor a completely certain way to a desired end that would otherwise be beyond one's reach (from the magic words used for opening a hidden door in the Arabian Nights stories): A university degree is no longer the open sesame to a good job.
,open 'shop n a place of work where it is not necessary to belong to a TRADE UNION → opposite CLOSED SHOP
open society in a SOCIETY in which people have considerable freedom in political and religious matters: In an open society it ought to be possible for citizens to criticize the government without being imprisoned.
'Open 'Software Foundation, the abbrev. OSF an international organization, whose members include large computer companies, TELECOMMUNICATIONS companies, and important computer scientists, which is trying to set international standards for the systems that make computers operate. Its aim is for computers made by different companies to be able to work together.
'open ,system n tech a computer system made according to set standards and which can be connected with similar systems made by other companies
open-toed adj open-toed sandals/shoes shoes that do not cover the end of your toes
Open University, the also OU a British university for adult students who study for degrees mainly in their own homes. Students do not attend classes, but learn through a combination of radio and television programmes, and DISTANCE LEARNING (=when work is sent between students and teachers by mail). Students can be of any age, and it is not necessary to pass any examinations before you start a course of study at the Open University. Students also attend short summer courses away from home, and people sometimes joke that there is a lot of sex between the teachers and students. The Open University was started in 1969, and is based in Milton Keynes in central England.
, open 'verdict n (in a British CORONER's court) a decision that records a death, but not how it was caused, especially because this is not known: The jury returned an open verdict.
o·pen·work /'əupən,wɜːrk/ n [U] a pattern with spaces in between thread, metal etc: openwork stockings
op.e·ra /'opərəll'ɑː-/ n 1 [C] a musical play in which many or all of the words are sung: Mozart's operas 2 [U] such musical plays as a form of art, a business etc: I'm fond of opera.  $ \dagger $ an opera house  $ \rightarrow $ compare OPERETTA; see also COMIC OPERA, GRAND OPERA, HORSE OPERA, SOAP OPERA —-tic /,opə'rætik• ||,ɑː-/ adj: an operatic voice —-tically /kli/ adv
op·e·ra·ble /'opərəbəlɪl'ɑː-/ adj med (of a disease or medical condition) able to be treated by means of an operation → opposite INOPERABLE —bly adv