door

[ dawr, dohr ]

noun

1. a movable, usually solid, barrier for opening and closing an entranceway, cupboard, cabinet, or the like, commonly turning on hinges or sliding in grooves.
2. a doorway:

   to go through the door.

3. the building, house, etc., to which a door belongs:

   My friend lives two doors down the street.

4. any means of approach, admittance, or access:

   the doors to learning.

5. any gateway marking an entrance or exit from one place or state to another:

   at heaven's door.

door

/ dɔː /

noun

1. 1. a hinged or sliding panel for closing the entrance to a room, cupboard, etc
   2. ( in combination )

      doorknob

      doorbell

2. a doorway or entrance to a room or building
3. a means of access or escape

   a door to success

4. early doors informal.
   sport at an early stage
5. lay at someone's door
   to lay (the blame or responsibility) on someone
6. out of doors
   in or into the open air
7. show someone the door
   to order someone to leave

Other Words From

• doorless adjective
• half-door adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of door¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English dore, Old English duru “door,” dor “gate”; akin to German Tür, Old Norse dyrr, Greek thýra, Latin foris, Old Irish dorus, Old Chursh Slavonic dvĭrĭ

Word History and Origins

Origin of door¹

Old English duru; related to Old Frisian dure, Old Norse dyrr, Old High German turi, Latin forēs, Greek thura

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. lay at someone's door, to hold someone accountable for; blame; impute.
2. leave the door open, to allow the possibility of accommodation or change; be open to reconsideration:

   The boss rejected our idea but left the door open for discussing it again next year.

3. lie at someone's door, to be the responsibility of; be imputable to:

   One's mistakes often lie at one's own door.

4. show someone the door, to request or order someone to leave; dismiss:

   She resented his remark and showed him the door.

More idioms and phrases containing door

see at death's door ; at one's door ; back door ; beat a path to someone's door ; behind closed doors ; close the door on ; darken one's door ; foot in the door ; keep the wolf from the door ; lay at someone's door ; leave the door open ; lock the barn door ; next door to ; open doors ; open the door to ; see someone out (to the door) ; show someone out (to the door) ; show someone the door .

Example Sentences

The finding could open the door to better ways to manage high blood pressure and other vascular diseases.

From Science Daily

They packed up a few bags, locked the door and left.

From BBC

This multimodal approach, combining two different data sources, allows a more accurate and objective analysis of a person's emotional state, opening the door to a new phase of depression diagnosis.

From Science Daily

These bladders create an internal vacuum and are closed by a special 'trap door'.

From Science Daily

“Anytime a door has been opened for me, I brought as many people through that door as possible.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• exit
• gate