abrir
transitive verb
1. to open (en general); to spread (alas); to cut open (melón); to turn on (agua, gas); to unlock, to open (cerradura); to undo (cremallera)
2. to dig (túnel); to build (canal, camino); to make (agujero, surco)
- le abrieron la cabeza de un botellazo -> they smashed his head open with a bottle
- abrir paso o camino (también figurative) -> to clear the way
3. to open (negocio, colegio, mercado)
4. to whet (apetito)
- la natación abre el apetito -> swimming makes you hungry
5. to head (encabezar) (lista); to lead (manifestación)
also:
- abrir fuego (sobre o contra) -> to open fire (on)
intransitive verb
6. to open (en general)
- la tienda abre a las cinco -> the shop opens at five (o'clock)
7. to open the door (abrir la puerta)
- ¡abra, policía! -> open up, it's the police!
abrirse
pronomial verb1. to open (puerta, caja)
- este bote no se abre -> this jar won't open
- se te ha abierto la camisa -> your shirt has come undone
2. to open, to begin (empezar) (película, función)
3. to open up (sincerarse)
- abrirse a alguien -> to open up to somebody, to confide in somebody
- abrirse más a la gente -> to be more open with people
4. to open up (posibilidades)
5. to clear (cielo)
6. to split open (rajarse)
- se cayó del caballo y se abrió la cabeza -> she fell off her horse and split her head open
7. (también figurative)
- abrirse paso o camino -> to make one's way
8. to clear off (informal) (irse)
Copyright © 2006 Chambers Harrap Publishers Limited
abrir [ah-breer’]
article & verb transitive
1. To open, to begin, to inaugurate, to unlock.
- Abrir una puerta con llave -> to unlock a door
- En un abrir y cerrar de ojos -> in the twinkling of an eye
2. To remove obstacles.
3. To engrave.
- Abrir a chasco -> (coll.) To jest, to mock
- Abrir el día -> to dawn
- Abrir el ojo -> to be alert
- Abrir la mano -> to accept bribes; to be generous
- Abrir los ojos a uno -> to undeceive; to enlighten
verb reflexive
4. To be open, to tear.
5. To extend itself.
6. To chink, to cleave, to yawn.
7. To communicate, to disclose a secret. (Metaphorical)
- Abrirse con alguno -> to disclose one’s secret, or to unbosom and reveal it to a friend
- Abrirse o abrir una entrada al agua -> (Naut.) to spring a leak
8. Abrir registro (barcos), to begin to take a cargo.
To expand, as flowers; to distend.
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Verb conjugation
| Infinitive: | abrir | ||||
| gerundio: | abriendo | ||||
| participio pasado: | abierto | ||||
| Presente | Pretérito | Imperfect | Futuro | Subjuntivo | |
| Yo Tú Ella/Él/Usted Nosotros Vosotros Ellos/Ustedes | abro abres abre abrimos abrís abren | abrí abriste abrió abrimos abristeis abrieron | abría abrías abría abríamos abríais abrían | abriré abrirás abrirá abriremos abriréis abrirán | abra abras abra abramos abráis abran |
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