door

American  

[dawr, dohr] / dɔr, doʊr /

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.

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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.

door British  

/ dɔː /

noun

1. 1. a hinged or sliding panel for closing the entrance to a room, cupboard, etc

   2. ( in combination )

      doorbell

      doorknob

2. a doorway or entrance to a room or building

3. a means of access or escape

   a door to success

4. informal sport at an early stage

5. to lay (the blame or responsibility) on someone

6. in or into the open air

7. to order someone to leave

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door More Idioms  

1. 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.

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Other Word Forms

• doorless adjective
• half-door adjective

Etymology

Origin of door

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

Example Sentences

"When we give athletes opportunities to problem-solve through movement, we open the door to more resilient and adaptable sprint performance."

From Science Daily • Apr. 8, 2026

“The comp next door, no one would have thought that price was possible,” Gaetjens says.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

An earlier strike ripped the door of her building from its hinges.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

How could the Bruins allow the cornerstone of the program’s future to just walk out the door?

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

At the end is a heavy metal door propped open to the outside with a block of wood.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Related Words

• exit
• gate