door
Definitions
A movable barrier that opens and closes the entrance to a room, building, or vehicle.
门（开关房间、建筑或车辆入口的活动屏障）。
A doorway or entrance; a means of access or opportunity (figurative).
门口、入口；（比喻）通道、机会。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedAn unanalyzable native word, from Old English duru and ultimately the Proto-Indo-European root *dhwer- ('doorway'). It doesn't break into smaller parts — it IS the root, one of the oldest words in English.
Root door still carries 5 more wordsWhy It Means This
Because a door is the threshold between inside and outside, English turns it into a metaphor for access and choice everywhere: 'open doors' are opportunities, 'close the door on' ends a possibility, 'show someone the door' means make them leave, and 'at death's door' means near death. The physical object stands for any transition point.
Common Collocations
- 1.open the door开门
- 2.close the door关门
- 3.knock on the door敲门
- 4.front door前门
- 5.next door隔壁
- 6.door-to-door挨家挨户
Example Sentences
- 1.
Please close the door quietly when you leave.
- 2.
She knocked on the door and waited for an answer.
- 3.
Learning English opened the door to new job opportunities.
Easily Confused
door vs gate — A door is a panel set in a wall, usually for a room, building, or vehicle. A gate is a movable barrier in a fence or wall, usually outdoors and around a yard, field, or property. You knock on a door; you swing open a gate.