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doorway

American  
[dawr-wey, dohr-] / ˈdɔrˌweɪ, ˈdoʊr- /

noun

  1. the passage or opening into a building, room, etc., commonly closed and opened by a door; portal.

  2. a means of access.

    a doorway to success.


doorway British  
/ ˈdɔːˌweɪ /

noun

  1. an opening into a building, room, etc, esp one that has a door

  2. a means of access or escape

    a doorway to freedom

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of doorway

First recorded in 1790–1800; door + way 1

Explanation

A doorway is the place through which you enter a room. Some doorways have actual doors, while others are merely arched openings into a room or building. If you stand in your doorway watching your neighbor approach on his bike, you've probably got the front door open and you're standing in its space. The doorway to your living room, on the other hand, might be a simple arch or wide entryway. The word dates from about 1799, from door and way, which here means "space" — it's the space in a wall where a door sits.

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