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gasp

[gasp, gahsp]

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noun

a sudden, short intake of breath, as in shock or surprise.

a convulsive effort to breathe.

a short, convulsive utterance: the words came out in gasps.

verb (used without object)

to catch one's breath.

to struggle for breath with the mouth open; breathe convulsively.

to long with breathless eagerness; desire; crave (usually followed by for or after).

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Gasp is one of our favorite verbs.

So is kibitz. Does it mean:

chat, to converse

to flee; abscond:

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verb (used with object)

to utter with gasps (often followed by out, forth, away, etc.): She gasped out the words.

to breathe or emit with gasps (often followed by away).

Idiom

last gasp, the point of death; dying: At his last gasp he confessed to the murder.

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English gaspen, probably Old English *gāspen, equivalent to Old Norse geispa; akin to gape

Related forms

gasp·ing·ly, adverb

Synonyms
4, 5. puff, blow. See pant.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To gasp

Example Sentences

The picture he has on his website made me gasp and is fodder for students' and colleagues' laughter.

The company remained hopeful that a buyer would emerge at the last gasp.

Had to take a deep gasp before she told her husband.

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Collins

World English Dictionary

gasp (ɡɑːsp)

—vb (often foll by out)
1.	(intr) to draw in the breath sharply, convulsively, or with effort, esp in expressing awe, horror, etc
2.	(intr; foll by after or for) to crave
3.	to utter or emit breathlessly

—n
4.	a short convulsive intake of breath
5.	a short convulsive burst of speech
6.	at the last gasp
	a. at the point of death
	b. at the last moment

[C14: from Old Norse geispa to yawn; related to Swedish dialect gispa, Danish gispe]

'gaspingly

—*adv*

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

gasp

late 14c., gaspen, of uncertain origin, perhaps from O.N. geispa "to yawn," or its Dan. derivative gispe "gasp." Related: Gasped; gasping.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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