figurative. To open up (anything) so as to liberate or extract something from it; to open, penetrate, break into, begin to use. Also absol.

transferred and figurative. To pierce or break into, in order to liberate or extract something; to ‘tap’ (a bed of coal or other mineral).

transitive. To pierce, cut into (in fighting or carving); to cut or break into, so as to use.

transitive. To open up (a receptacle or the like) and remove its contents; to get (articles) out of a place of storage; hence, to prepare (food…