opener
gb/ˈoʊpənɚ/ us/ˈoʊpənɚ/
A2
Kiingereza
~ 10000
Maana
maana 0
Nomino
A2
entity
1
tool or device for opening things
A tool or machine that you use to open a bottle, a can, a letter, a door, or something similar.
Muundo wa matumizi:
an opener for [container/door]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes confuse "opener" with the verb "open" and say *"I opener the bottle"* instead of "I open the bottle" or "I use a bottle opener." Remember: "opener" is a noun (a thing), not a verb.
Visawe
device (More general and not limited to opening things; refers to any kind of tool or piece of equipment.)
Vinyume
closer (A mechanical device that closes something, such as a door closer, doing the opposite action of an opener.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
bottle opener
|can opener
|electric can opener
|letter opener
|garage door opener
|wine opener
Mada
daily life
|home
|food
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Mifano
- I can’t open this bottle; where’s the bottle opener?
- We bought an electric can opener to make cooking easier.
- He keeps a small letter opener on his desk for the morning mail.
- The garage door opener stopped working during the storm.
- This pocket tool works as both a corkscrew and a bottle opener.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- She used a bottle opener to open the beer.
- My parents gave me an electric can opener for my new kitchen.
- There is a letter opener next to the phone.
- I pressed the garage door opener in my car.
- I always carry a small opener on my key ring.
Nomino
B1
event
2
first game, show, or event
The first game, show, or event in a season, tour, or group of events.
Muundo wa matumizi:
the [season/home/tour] opener
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes think "opener" here means a person who opens something, but in this sense it is the whole game, show, or event. For example, "season opener" is the first match, not a person.
Visawe
opening game (Used mainly for sports; more specific than "opener," which can include shows or other events.)
Vinyume
finale (Refers to the last event or performance in a series, the opposite of the opener.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
season opener
|home opener
|tour opener
|series opener
|opening-night opener
Mada
sports
|entertainment
|time
|arts_entertainment
Mifano
- Tickets for the season opener sold out in an hour.
- The band’s tour opener will be in Madrid next month.
- They lost their home opener but improved as the season went on.
- The film festival’s opener was a documentary about climate change.
- Fans lined up all morning for the series opener against their rivals.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- Our team won the season opener last night.
- The band’s opener is in a small club in London.
- We are excited for the home opener on Saturday.
- The festival opener starts at six o’clock.
- He scored twice in the series opener.
Nomino
B2
entity
3
opening line or section
The first line, paragraph, joke, song, or part that starts a speech, story, or show.
Muundo wa matumizi:
a strong/weak opener to [something]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners may confuse this with "opening" as an adjective or noun. "Opener" here is a countable noun (e.g. "a strong opener"), while "opening" is more general (e.g. "the opening of the book").
Visawe
introduction (More formal and general; "opener" often sounds more casual and can refer to very short elements like a single line or joke.)
Vinyume
conclusion (The final section of a text or performance, contrasting with the first part called the opener.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
strong opener
|weak opener
|catchy opener
|song opener
|opener line
Mada
communication
|entertainment
|writing
|arts_entertainment
Mifano
- Her essay has a strong opener that grabs your attention immediately.
- The comedian’s opener was a risky joke about politics.
- That song is the perfect opener for the album.
- His email opener sounded too aggressive for a first message.
- The speech had a boring opener, but the middle was excellent.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- The first sentence is a good opener for your story.
- The comedian started with a funny opener.
- This song is the opener on their new album.
- You need a better opener for your presentation.
- Her email opener was friendly and simple.
Nomino
technical
C1
entity
4
starting player in some sports
In some sports, the player who starts the game or the first part of the game.
Muundo wa matumizi:
an opener in [sport/game]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners may think "opener" always means a tool, even in sports headlines. In sports articles, "opener" can be a player, not a device.
Visawe
starter (General sports word for a player who begins the game; "opener" is used in specific sports like cricket or in special baseball strategies.)
Vinyume
reliever (In baseball, a pitcher who comes into the game after the first pitcher, often replacing the opener.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
opening batsman/opener
|new-ball opener
|as an opener
|pace opener
Mada
sports
|games
Mifano
- He was promoted to opener after scoring heavily in the domestic league.
- The team chose a different opener for the final match.
- Their openers failed to build a strong partnership in the first innings.
- She has been the regular opener for the national side for five years.
- The coach used a short-inning opener instead of a traditional starting pitcher.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- He plays as an opener for his cricket team.
- The coach picked a new opener for the big game.
- Their openers did not score many runs today.
- She became the first-choice opener last year.
- The opener was tired after a long time on the field.
Nomino
B2
action
5
first remark to start talking
A sentence or question you say first to start talking with someone, especially in a social or romantic situation.
Muundo wa matumizi:
a good/bad opener with [someone]
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes confuse this with "opening" and say *"a good opening"* where native speakers might say "a good opener" for a specific line. Both are possible, but "opener" usually refers to one exact remark, especially in dating or chatting contexts.
Visawe
icebreaker (Often used for an activity or remark that makes people feel more relaxed; "opener" is specifically the first line or comment.)
Vinyume
farewell line (A phrase used to end a conversation, opposite in function to an opener.)
Miunganiko ya maneno
good opener
|bad opener
|conversation opener
|chat-up opener
|ice-breaking opener
Mada
communication
|social
|relationships
Mifano
- As a dating app opener, that message sounds a bit too formal.
- He practiced a few openers before walking over to talk to her.
- Asking about someone’s job is a safe opener at a networking event.
- A simple "Hi, how do you know the host?" is a great party opener.
- Her joke about the weather was an effective opener with the group.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
- He used a funny opener to start the chat.
- You need a simple opener when you meet new people.
- That question is not a good opener on a first date.
- A smile and "Hi" can be a nice opener.
- He wrote a short opener before his main message.
Sarufi
Umbo la kamusi
opener
IPA
GB/ˈoʊpənɚ/
US/ˈoʊpənɚ/
Silabi na mkazo
open - er (silabi 2)
Stress on 1st syllable (open)
Maumbo ya neno
Noun
- Base: opener
- Plural: openers
Familia ya neno
Semi
bottle opener
1/bˈɑtəl ˈoʊpənɚ/
fixed phrase
tool for opening bottles
A small tool that you use to open bottles, usually to take off metal caps or corks.
Mifano
- We forgot to bring a bottle opener to the picnic.
- This bottle opener also has a small knife built into it.
- The waiter quickly found a bottle opener and opened the wine.
can opener
1/kən ˈoʊpənɚ/
fixed phrase
tool for opening cans
A tool or kitchen machine that cuts open metal food cans.
Mifano
- We don’t have a can opener, so we can’t make the soup.
- She bought an electric can opener because it’s easier on her hands.
- The can opener is in the top drawer next to the stove.
conversation opener
1/kˌɑnvɚsˈeɪʃən ˈoʊpənɚ/
fixed phrase
remark that starts a conversation
A sentence or question that you say first to begin talking with someone.
Mifano
- As a conversation opener, "What do you do?" is simple but effective.
- He always has a good conversation opener at parties.
- Using someone’s name can be a powerful conversation opener.
eye-opener
1/ˈaɪ ˈoʊpənɚ/
idiom
surprising, revealing experience
Something that surprises you and makes you see or understand a situation in a new, clear way.
Mifano
- Working in a hospital was a real eye-opener for him.
- The report on climate change was an eye-opener for many voters.
- Living abroad can be an eye-opener about your own culture.
garage door opener
1/ɡɚˈɑʒ dˈɔɹ ˈoʊpənɚ/
fixed phrase
automatic garage door device
A machine or a small remote control that opens and closes a garage door automatically.
Mifano
- The battery in my garage door opener died this morning.
- We installed a new garage door opener with a smartphone app.
- She pressed the garage door opener and drove inside.
home opener
1/hˈoʊm ˈoʊpənɚ/
fixed phrase
first home game of season
The first game in a season that a team plays in its own stadium or city.
Mifano
- The stadium was completely full for the home opener.
- They will give away free T-shirts at the home opener.
- The team lost the home opener but bounced back later.
letter opener
1/lˈɛtɚ ˈoʊpənɚ/
fixed phrase
tool for opening envelopes
A thin tool, often like a small knife, that you use to open envelopes neatly.
Mifano
- He used a silver letter opener to slice open the envelope.
- There’s a letter opener on the receptionist’s desk.
- My grandfather gave me an old letter opener with my initials on it.
season opener
1/sˈizən ˈoʊpənɚ/
fixed phrase
first game of the season
The first game or match that a team plays in a new sports season.
Mifano
- They face last year’s champions in the season opener.
- Fans are hopeful after a strong performance in the season opener.
- The coach rested two key players for the season opener.
series opener
1/sˈɪɹiz ˈoʊpənɚ/
fixed phrase
first game of a series
The first game in a group of games played between the same teams over a few days.
Mifano
- They dropped the series opener but won the next two games.
- The coach announced the starting pitcher for the series opener.
- Winning the series opener gave them a big advantage.