Origin of open

before 900; (adj.) Middle English, Old English; cognate with Old Saxon opan (Dutch open), Old High German offan (German offen), Old Norse opinn, akin to up; (v.) Middle English openen, Old English openian; cognate with Old Saxon opanon (Dutch openen), Old High German offanōn (German öffnen)

OTHER WORDS FROM open

British Dictionary definitions for open up (1 of 2)

open up

verb (adverb)

(intr) to start firing a gun or guns
(intr) to speak freely or without restraint
(intr) informal (of a motor vehicle) to accelerate
(tr) to render accessible the motorway opened up the remoter areas
to make or become more exciting or lively the game opened up after half-time

British Dictionary definitions for open up (2 of 2)

open
/ (ˈəʊpən) /

adjective

verb

noun

See also open up

Derived forms of open

openable, adjective openly, adverb openness, noun

Word Origin for open

Old English; related to Old French open, epen, Old Saxon opan, Old High German offan

Idioms and Phrases with open up (1 of 2)

open up

1

Spread out, unfold, as in A green valley opened up before us. [Early 1800s]

2

Begin operation, as in The new store opens up next month. [Late 1700s]

3

Begin firing, begin attacking, as in The artillery opened up at dawn, or, figuratively, The speaker opened up fiercely on the opposition. [1930s] Also see open fire.

4

Speak freely and candidly, as in At last the witness opened up and told what happened. “ Colloquial; c. 1920]

5

Make an opening by cutting, as in The surgeon opened up the patient's chest.

6

Become available or accessible, as in With new markets opening up all the time we hope to see our revenues increase dramatically. [Mid-1800s]

7

Increase the speed of a vehicle, as in Let's see how fast the car will go if you open it up. [Colloquial; c. 1920]

8

Open the door, let me (or us) in, as in Open up! This is the police. [Mid-1900s] Note that in all of these usages except def. 4 and 7, up serves as an intensifier, that is, it emphasizes the verb open.

Idioms and Phrases with open up (2 of 2)

open