doors: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “doors” mean?
A solid, movable barrier used to open or close an entrance to a building, room, vehicle, or piece of furniture.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A solid, movable barrier used to open or close an entrance to a building, room, vehicle, or piece of furniture.
Metaphorically, can represent opportunities, points of access, transitions between states, or barriers to entry in various contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In architectural/building contexts, specific terms may differ (e.g., 'French doors' vs. 'French windows' in the UK). 'Back door' and 'front door' are universal. The idiom 'next door' is more common in UK English for 'neighbouring'.
Connotations
Similar connotations in both varieties. 'Doors' as a metaphor for opportunity is equally common.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects. Slight spelling preference: UK English might favour 'front door step' vs. US 'front doorstep'.
Grammar
How to Use “doors” in a Sentence
[Someone] opened the doors[Something] has doorsDoors [lead/open] to [somewhere]Doors [were] closed/locked by [someone]Through the doorsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “doors” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They doored the ball into the net during the chaotic match.
- The cyclist was nearly doored by a parked car in London.
American English
- In a fit of rage, he doored his opponent after the hockey game.
- Be careful not to get doored when biking in the city.
adverb
British English
- He lives door. (informal/slang truncation of 'next door')
- The shop is situated just door to us.
American English
- She ran out door to catch the bus. (informal, non-standard for 'out the door')
- He's staying door for the summer. (slang)
adjective
British English
- The doors policy has been revised for security. (as in 'related to doors')
- They checked the doors handle for fingerprints.
American English
- The door prize will be awarded at the end of the event.
- We need a new door frame for the garage.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorical: 'new markets opened their doors', 'the deal closed the door on future negotiations'.
Academic
Used in literature and sociology: 'doors as symbols of transition', 'institutional doors'.
Everyday
Literal: 'Shut the car doors, please.' 'The supermarket has automatic doors.'
Technical
In architecture: 'fire-rated doors', 'acoustic doors'. In computing: 'a backdoor (security vulnerability)'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “doors”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “doors”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “doors”
- Incorrect: 'The door of the cars were open.' Correct: 'The doors of the cars were open.' (subject-verb agreement with plural 'doors').
- Incorrect: 'He entered through the door.' (often odd for plural openings) Correct: 'He entered through the doors.' if a double doorway.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but informally or in specific contexts (e.g., sports: 'to door' an opponent into a door or barrier; cycling slang: 'to be doored' is to be hit by an opening car door). It is not a standard core verb.
A 'door' is typically part of a wall or a smaller structure (house, room, car, cupboard). A 'gate' is usually part of a fence, wall, or barrier enclosing an outdoor area, like a garden, park, or entrance to a field.
It's a fixed idiom referring to the action of responding to someone at the main entrance of a building, which typically has one primary door for visitors. It conceptualizes the act of answering as directed at the single point of contact, even if the building has multiple doors.
Yes, the idiom is purely metaphorical. It means 'in secret' or 'privately', regardless of the actual physical state of any doors. It evokes the image of a private meeting from which the public is excluded.
A solid, movable barrier used to open or close an entrance to a building, room, vehicle, or piece of furniture.
Doors is usually neutral in register.
Doors: in British English it is pronounced /dɔːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /dɔːrz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “behind closed doors”
- “dead as a doornail”
- “get a foot in the door”
- “show someone the door”
- “at death's door”
- “lay something at someone's door”
- “open doors”
- “when one door closes, another one opens”
- “next door to”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A door has four letters and often four sides (a frame). Think: DO-OR-S = 'DO' go outside OR stay 'S' (inside) - the choice a door gives you.
Conceptual Metaphor
OPPORTUNITIES/CHOICES ARE DOORS (e.g., 'a door opened for her'), BARRIERS/OBSTACLES ARE CLOSED DOORS (e.g., 'the door was shut in his face'), TRANSITIONS/CHANGES ARE PASSAGES THROUGH DOORS.
Practice
Quiz
In the conceptual metaphor 'OPPORTUNITIES ARE DOORS', which of the following sentences best exemplifies it?