# door

/ˈdɔɹ/ (US) · /dˈɔː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/door
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. physical entrance

noun · CEFR A1

the moving panel you open and close to enter or leave a room, building, or car.

For teachers: a movable barrier used to close off an entrance, typically consisting of a rigid panel that swings on hinges or slides in a groove.

- Please remember to lock the front door when you leave the house.
- The heavy oak door swung open on silent hinges, revealing a dimly lit hallway lined with portraits of the estate's former owners.

### 2. entry point

noun · CEFR A1

a place where you enter a building or a specific house.

For teachers: a point of entry or a building identified by its entrance, often used in phrases like 'next door'.

- He lives just two doors down from the local grocery store.
- The delivery driver was instructed to leave the package at the side door if no one answered the main bell.

### 3. figurative access

noun · CEFR B2

a way to get something or reach a goal.

For teachers: a figurative means of approach, access, or opportunity.

- This internship could open the door to a great career in fashion.
- The new trade agreement opened the door for small businesses to export their products to international markets for the first time.

### 4. ticket sales

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

the money collected from people paying to enter a show or club.

For teachers: the total proceeds from entrance fees or ticket sales at a venue, often used to determine performer pay.

- The band gets half of the money from the door tonight.
- Despite the heavy rain, the door was surprisingly good, allowing the venue to cover the headliner's guarantee without dipping into bar profits.

### 5. to hit a cyclist with a car door

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to open a car door suddenly and cause a cyclist to crash into it.

For teachers: to cause a collision by opening a vehicle door into the path of an oncoming cyclist.

- He was badly injured when a driver doored him on a busy street.
- The city launched a safety campaign to prevent cyclists from being doored by distracted passengers exiting taxis.

Usage: The verb is transitive and often used in the passive voice.

## Examples

- Please close the door when you leave the room.
- She knocked on the front door and waited for someone to let her inside the house.
- The heavy oak door swung open on rusted hinges, revealing a dimly lit hallway that smelled of old paper and floor wax.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.
