opening-n; 6 Senses

Sense Number 1: empty space

Commentary: An open or empty space between things, hole

Examples:
There was a small opening between the trees.
The explosion made an opening in the wall.
The opening into the aorta from the lower left chamber of the heart is
blocked.
They left a small opening for the cat at the bottom of the door.

Mappings:
PropBank: NM
WordNet 2.0 Sense Numbers: 1 9 10

Sense Number 2: opportunity

Commentary: Opportunity especially for employment or promotion, possibility

Examples:
There is an opening in the sales department.

Mappings:
PropBank: NM
WordNet 2.0 Sense Numbers: 6 8

Sense Number 3: step one

Commentary: An initial piece of something larger (sometimes the initial step in a series of actions)

Examples:
The opening of the book established the basic theme.
He memorized all of the important chess openings.

Mappings:
PropBank: NM
WordNet 2.0 Sense Numbers: 7 12

Sense Number 4: beginning

Commentary: Something which begins a process or production (not a piece of something larger but an event in and of itself)

Examples:
The opening ceremony was too long.
The opening of his first play received critical reviews.

Mappings:
PropBank: NM
WordNet 2.0 Sense Numbers: 2 4

Sense Number 5: becoming open

Commentary: OPENING[+event] The act of becoming open or being made open

Examples:
The opening of his arms was the sign I was waiting for.
The opening of the safe proved to be a difficult task.
The ray of light revealed his cautious opening of the door.

Mappings:
PropBank: NM
WordNet 2.0 Sense Numbers: 3 5

Sense Number 6: hatchway

Commentary: An entrance equipped with a hatch; especially a passageway between decks of a ship

Examples:
He made it safely to the other deck of the ship via the hatchway or
opening over there.

Mappings:
PropBank: NM
WordNet 2.0 Sense Numbers: 11