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gape - 5 dictionary results

gape

  [geyp, gap] verb, gaped, gap⋅ing, noun
Use gape in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to stare with open mouth, as in wonder.
2. to open the mouth wide involuntarily, as the result of hunger, sleepiness, or absorbed attention.
3. to open as a gap; split or become open wide.
–noun
4. a wide opening; gap; breach.
5. an act or instance of gaping.
6. a stare, as in astonishment or with the mouth wide open.
7. a yawn.
8. Zoology. the width of the open mouth.
Origin:
1175–1225; ME < ON gapa to open the mouth wide; cf. G gaffen

Related forms:
gap⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. See gaze. 2, 3. yawn.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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gape   (gāp, gāp)   
intr.v.   gaped, gap·ing, gapes
  1. To open the mouth wide; yawn.
  2. To stare wonderingly or stupidly, often with the mouth open. See Synonyms at gaze.
  3. To open wide: The curtains gaped when the wind blew.
n.  
  1. The act or an instance of gaping.
  2. A large opening.
  3. Zoology The width of the space between the open jaws or mandibles of a vertebrate.
  4. gapes (used with a sing. verb) A disease of birds, especially young domesticated chickens and turkeys, caused by gapeworms and resulting in obstructed breathing.
  5. gapes A fit of yawning.

[Middle English gapen, from Old Norse gapa.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Gape

Gape\ (?; in Eng, commonly ?; 277), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Gaped (? or ?); p. pr. & vb. n. Gaping] [OE. gapen, AS. geapan to open; akin to D. gapen to gape, G. gaffen, Icel. & Sw. gapa, Dan. gabe; cf. Skr. jabh to snap at, open the mouth. Cf. Gaby, Gap.]

1. To open the mouth wide; as: (a) Expressing a desire for food; as, young birds gape. --Dryden. (b) Indicating sleepiness or indifference; to yawn.

She stretches, gapes, unglues her eyes, And asks if it be time to rise. --Swift. (c) Showing self-forgetfulness in surprise, astonishment, expectation, etc.

With gaping wonderment had stared aghast. --Byron. (d) Manifesting a desire to injure, devour, or overcome.

They have gaped upon me with their mouth. --Job xvi. 10.

2. To pen or part widely; to exhibit a gap, fissure, or hiatus.

May that ground gape and swallow me alive! --Shak.

3. To long, wait eagerly, or cry aloud for something; -- with for, after, or at.

The hungry grave for her due tribute gapes. --Denham.

Syn: To gaze; stare; yawn. See Gaze.

Gape

Gape\, n. 1. The act of gaping; a yawn. --Addison.

2. (Zo["o]l.) The width of the mouth when opened, as of birds, fishes, etc.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : gape
Spanish: mirar boquiabierto,
German: anstaunen,
Japanese: ぽかんと口を開ける
More Translations »

gape 
c.1220, from O.N. gapa "to open the mouth, gape," common W.Gmc. (cf. M.Du. gapen, Ger. gaffen), of unknown origin.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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