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 )

      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

Other Word Forms

• doorless adjective
• half-door adjective

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.

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

“One day it might feel better and we can really take off. We’re not closing off the door to that right now. But we got to make sure to check some boxes before that.”

From Los Angeles Times

It turned out that his great-nephew lived just three doors away from another member of the war detectives team.

From BBC

As officers broke in through the back door, the man shot himself in the head.

From Los Angeles Times

One significant proposal will be ending home deliveries, which will see parcels delivered to community mailboxes instead of in front of people's doors.

From BBC

Red warning lights flash above the door, and inside there is an emergency escape hatch into a tunnel in case something goes wrong.

From BBC

Related Words

• exit 
• gate