entrance

¹ American  

[en-truhns] / ˈɛn trəns /

noun

1. an act of entering, as into a place or upon new duties.

   Synonyms:

   ingress, entry

   Antonyms:

   exit

2. a point or place of entering; an opening or passage for entering, as a doorway.

   Synonyms:

   ingress, entry

   Antonyms:

   exit

3. the right, privilege, or permission to enter; admission.

   People improperly dressed will be refused entrance to the theater.

4. Theater. the moment or place in the script at which an actor comes on the stage.

5. Music.

   1. the point in a musical score at which a particular voice or instrument joins the ensemble.

   2. the way in which this is done.

      a sloppy entrance.

6. a manner, means, or style of entering a room, group, etc.; way of coming into view.

   She mimicked Joan's entrance.

7. Nautical. the immersed portion of a hull forward of the middle body (run ).

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entrance ² American  

[en-trans] / ɛnˈtræns /

verb (used with object)

entranced, entrancing

1. to fill with delight or wonder; enrapture.

   Synonyms:

   transport, fascinate, spellbind, enthrall

2. to put into a trance.

   to be hypnotically entranced.

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entrance ¹ British  

/ ˈɛntrəns /

noun

1. the act or an instance of entering; entry

2. a place for entering, such as a door or gate

3. 1. the power, liberty, or right of entering; admission

   2. ( as modifier )

      an entrance fee

4. the coming of an actor or other performer onto a stage

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entrance ² British  

/ ɪnˈtrɑːns /

verb

1. to fill with wonder and delight; enchant

2. to put into a trance; hypnotize

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Related Words

Entrance, admittance, admission refer to the possibility of entering a place or a group. Entrance may refer to either possibility: Entrance is by way of the side door; entrance into a card game. Admittance refers more to place and suggests entrance that may be permitted or denied: to gain admittance to a building; no admittance. Admission refers more to special groups and suggests entrance by payment, by formal or special permission, privilege, and the like: admission to a concert, a game, to candidacy, the bar, to society.

Other Word Forms

• entrancement noun
• entrancing adjective

Etymology

Origin of entrance¹

First recorded in 1525–50; from Middle French; enter, -ance

Origin of entrance²

First recorded in 1585–95; en- ¹ + trance ¹

Example Sentences

It is not necessary to know the backstory of the picture and its title to find it entrancing, but its history is a rich one.

From The Wall Street Journal

A large iron gate marks the entrance of an estate with two mansions set next to pine forests in the Sierra Madre mountains around Tapalpa, a favorite weekend retreat for wealthy Guadalajara businessmen.

From The Wall Street Journal

More slowly the two shopworkers got up and followed them down the stairs to the shop’s rear entrance.

From Literature

Platforms seven to 15 on the west side of the station are back in use but the main entrance on Gordon Street remains closed.

From BBC

Whatever had been dragged across the entrance didn’t seem to be a perfect fit.

From Literature

Related Words

• access
• avenue
• corridor
• door
• doorway
• entry
• entryway
• gate
• hall
• hallway
• lobby
• opening
• passageway
• porch
• port
• staircase