WordGarden.iodoor
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /dˈɔː/
US
- /ˈdɔr/
Meanings
Noun
a movable barrier that opens and closes an entrance
an entrance or doorway into a room, building, or vehicle
a house, room, or household identified by its entrance
More meaningsFewer meanings
a means of access, opportunity, or progress
Beyond the definition
A door is the part of a wall, room, car, or building that opens and closes so people can go in or out. In daily life, it gives access, privacy, and safety. You open a door to enter, close it to keep noise out, lock it for protection, or knock on it before stepping inside.
The word is also common in simple expressions and stories. An "open door" can suggest a welcome or a chance, while a "closed door" can suggest privacy, secrecy, or a missed opportunity. You might slam a door in anger, hold it open for someone, or hear that a job "opened the door" to something better.
A door is a movable panel that covers an opening in a wall, fence, vehicle, cabinet, or other structure. It lets people, animals, air, light, or things pass through when it is open, and it can provide safety, privacy, and separation when it is shut. Doors may slide, swing, fold, spin, or lift, and they can be made of wood, metal, glass, or other materials.
In everyday language, the word appears in many common situations. You can answer the door, stand at the door, leave something by the door, or go from door to door. We also use it in set phrases such as "next door," "out the door," "show someone the door," and "get your foot in the door." In these examples, the idea often stays close to entry, exit, or access.
The word also has a strong figurative use. A door can stand for a chance, a change, or access to something new. If an experience "opens doors," it creates future possibilities. If something "closes the door," it ends them. Because of that, the word often carries a sense of movement from one place, state, or part of life to another, both in everyday speech and in stories.
Examples
- 1
Home entrance
She left her bag by the front door.
- 2
Visitor
Someone's at the door.
- 3
Household request
Can you answer the door? I'm on a call.
- Phraseanswer the door
go and see who is there
- 4
Polite request
Could you hold the door for me? My hands are full.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Neighbors
My grandparents live next door.
- Phrasenext door
in the house or apartment beside yours
- 6
Fundraising
The volunteers went door to door collecting donations.
- Phrasedoor to door
going from one home to the next
- 7
Private meeting
The committee discussed the budget behind closed doors.
- Phrasebehind closed doors
in private
- 8
Opportunity
The scholarship opened the door to better opportunities.
- Patternopen the door to + opportunity
make it possible
- 9
Lost chance
His decision closed the door on a return to the team.
- Patternclose the door on + possibility
end the chance of it
- 10
Business closure
After thirty years in business, the restaurant closed its doors last winter.
- Phraseclose its doors
stop doing business
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- doornoun
Forms
- doorspluralnoun