Definition

1. Noun:
   • A swinging or sliding barrier: A movable structure used to close off an entrance to a building, room, vehicle, or piece of furniture.
   • The entrance or opening itself: The space in a wall or structure that is filled by a door; a doorway.
   • A means of access or opportunity: Something that provides a way to achieve something or enter a new condition.
   • A building or room considered as a unit of a series: Used to refer to a house, apartment, or office in a row of similar units.

Examples of Usage

• As a physical barrier:
  • Please close the door when you leave.
  • The car door was dented in the accident.
• Referring to an entrance or opening:
  • She stood in the door and waved goodbye.
  • The door to the balcony was open.
• As a metaphorical means of access:
  • Hard work is the door to success.
  • The new policy opened the door to further negotiations.
• Referring to a building or room unit:
  • She lives just two doors down from me.
  • His office is the first door on the right.

Advanced Usage

• "at death's door": Very ill and likely to die.
  • After the accident, he was at death's door for weeks.
• "behind closed doors": In private, not in public.
  • The committee made the decision behind closed doors.
• "close/shut the door on something": To make something impossible or unlikely to happen.
  • By refusing to compromise, they shut the door on a peaceful solution.
• "lay something at someone's door": To blame someone for something.
  • The failure of the project was laid at the manager's door.

Variants and Related Words

• Doorway (n): The opening or entrance that a door closes.
  • He waited in the doorway.
• Indoor (adj): Located, done, or used inside a building.
  • Indoor activities
• Outdoor (adj): Located, done, or used outside a building.
  • Outdoor furniture
• Doorman (n): A man employed to attend the entrance of a hotel, apartment building, etc.

Synonyms

• Entrance: A door, gate, or other opening used for entering.
• Gateway: An opening that can be closed by a gate; a means of access.
• Portal: A doorway, gate, or other entrance, especially a large and imposing one.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Phrases

• Show someone the door: To ask or tell someone to leave.
  • After his rude comments, she showed him the door.
• Open the door to something: To create an opportunity for something.
  • The new treaty opens the door to increased trade.
• Out of doors: Outside, in the open air.
  • The children love to play out of doors.

Related Idioms

• When one door closes, another one opens: Said to mean that the end of one opportunity or situation is often followed by the start of a new one.
  • Don't be discouraged about losing the job. When one door closes, another one opens.
• Get your foot in the door: To get an initial opportunity in an organization or field, which could lead to further progress.
  • An internship is a good way to get your foot in the door of the film industry.

Noun

1. a room that is entered via a door
   • his office is the third door down the hall on the left
2. a structure where people live or work (usually ordered along a street or road)
   • the office next door
   • they live two doors up the street from us
3. anything providing a means of access (or escape)
   • we closed the door to Haitian immigrants
   • education is the door to success
4. the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
   • he stuck his head in the doorway
5. a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
   • he knocked on the door
   • he slammed the door as he left