[count] 1 a : a movable piece of wood, glass, or metal that swings or slides open and shut so that people can enter or leave a room, building, vehicle, etc.
▪ open/shut/slam/lock/bolt the door ▪ I heard a knock on/at the door. ▪ the bedroom/bathroom/cellar door ▪ The car has four doors. = It's a four-door car. ▪ Leave the package at the front/back/side door. [=the door at the front/back/side of the house, building, etc.] ▪ Can you answer the door? [=open the door to see who is knocking on the door or ringing the doorbell] ▪ Is somebody at the door? [=knocking on the door or ringing the doorbell] ▪ Let me open the door for you. = (US) Let me get the door for you. ▪ (US) Can you get the door? [=can you open or close the door for me?] My hands are full. ▪ an exterior/outside door [=a door that can be used to enter or leave a building] ▪ an interior door [=a door inside a building; a door that connects rooms] ▪ a garage door [=a large door that covers the opening through which a car enters and leaves a garage] ▪ turn/pull the door handle ▪ a large brass door knocker [=knocker] — see also back door, dutch door, french door, revolving door, storm door, trapdoor
b : a part of an object (such as piece of furniture or an appliance) that swings or slides open and shut
▪ the cupboard/closet/refrigerator/oven door 2 : the opening for a door : the entrance to a room or building : doorway
▪ Please don't block the door. ▪ I peeked through the open door. ▪ He stood at/before the door. ▪ He greeted his guests as they came in/through the door. = He greeted his guests at the door. ▪ She walked out the door [=left] without saying goodbye. ▪ standing (just/right) inside/outside the door [=inside/outside the room, building, etc., near the door] 3 : a house, building, apartment, office, etc. — used with an adverb to indicate where something is in relation to something else ▪ She lives in a house two doors down/up from me. [=there is one house between our houses] ▪ The library is a few doors down from the bank. [=there are several buildings between the library and the bank] ▪ We grew up two doors apart. [=with one house/apartment between our houses/apartments] ◊If you do something (from) door to door, you do it at each of the houses, apartments, or buildings in an area.
▪ Girl Scouts are selling cookies door to door. = Girl Scouts are going door to door selling cookies. ▪ She went (from) door to door looking for her cat. — see also door-to-door, next door 4 — used especially with open or unlock to describe an opportunity or possibility ▪ The grant will open new doors for our town. [=will give our town new opportunities] ▪ The discovery may unlock the door to a cure for the disease. ▪ The door is open (to you) if you want a better job. ▪ A good education can open/unlock the door of success. [=can make success possible] ▪ The patent on the product has expired, which leaves the door open for [=makes it possible for] other companies to make it. — see also out of doors
▪ open/shut/slam/lock/bolt the door ▪ I heard a knock on/at the door. ▪ the bedroom/bathroom/cellar door ▪ The car has four doors. = It's a four-door car. ▪ Leave the package at the front/back/side door. [=the door at the front/back/side of the house, building, etc.] ▪ Can you answer the door? [=open the door to see who is knocking on the door or ringing the doorbell] ▪ Is somebody at the door? [=knocking on the door or ringing the doorbell] ▪ Let me open the door for you. = (US) Let me get the door for you. ▪ (US) Can you get the door? [=can you open or close the door for me?] My hands are full. ▪ an exterior/outside door [=a door that can be used to enter or leave a building] ▪ an interior door [=a door inside a building; a door that connects rooms] ▪ a garage door [=a large door that covers the opening through which a car enters and leaves a garage] ▪ turn/pull the door handle ▪ a large brass door knocker [=knocker] — see also back door, dutch door, french door, revolving door, storm door, trapdoor
b : a part of an object (such as piece of furniture or an appliance) that swings or slides open and shut
▪ the cupboard/closet/refrigerator/oven door
▪ Please don't block the door. ▪ I peeked through the open door. ▪ He stood at/before the door. ▪ He greeted his guests as they came in/through the door. = He greeted his guests at the door. ▪ She walked out the door [=left] without saying goodbye. ▪ standing (just/right) inside/outside the door [=inside/outside the room, building, etc., near the door]
▪ Girl Scouts are selling cookies door to door. = Girl Scouts are going door to door selling cookies. ▪ She went (from) door to door looking for her cat. — see also door-to-door, next door
at death's door — see death
behind closed doors — see closed
close the door on
: to no longer think about, consider, or accept (something)
▪ I'd like to close the door on that chapter in my life. ▪ The former senator says she hasn't closed the door on politics. ▪ Don't close the door on your options.
▪ I'd like to close the door on that chapter in my life. ▪ The former senator says she hasn't closed the door on politics. ▪ Don't close the door on your options.
close your doors 1 : to not allow someone to enter
▪ The country has closed its doors to immigrants. 2 of a business or organization : to close permanently : to stop operating
▪ The museum may be forced to close its doors. ▪ The store closed its doors (for the last time) last fall.
▪ The country has closed its doors to immigrants.
▪ The museum may be forced to close its doors. ▪ The store closed its doors (for the last time) last fall.
darken someone's door/doors — see darken
get your foot in the door — see 1foot
keep the wolf from the door — see 1wolf
lay the blame for (something) at someone's door
: to blame someone for (something)
▪ They laid the blame for the book's failure at my door.
▪ They laid the blame for the book's failure at my door.
open doors for — see 2open
open the door — see 2open
open your doors 1 : to allow someone to enter
▪ The country has opened its doors to immigrants. ▪ local churches that open their doors to the homeless in the winter months [=that let homeless people stay there] 2 of a business or organization : to open for business : to begin operating
▪ The new store will be opening its doors next month.
▪ The country has opened its doors to immigrants. ▪ local churches that open their doors to the homeless in the winter months [=that let homeless people stay there]
▪ The new store will be opening its doors next month.
show (someone) the door
: to tell or force (someone) to leave
▪ We don't tolerate bad behavior. If you cause trouble, we'll show you the door. ▪ If the coach doesn't win this year, they'll show him the door. [=they'll fire him]
▪ We don't tolerate bad behavior. If you cause trouble, we'll show you the door. ▪ If the coach doesn't win this year, they'll show him the door. [=they'll fire him]
show/see (someone) to the door
: to go to the door with (someone who is leaving)
▪ My secretary will show you to the door. [=show you out]
▪ My secretary will show you to the door. [=show you out]
— doorless adjective
▪ a doorless cubicle
▪ a doorless cubicle








