gape

gape
I. intransitive verb (gaped; gaping) Etymology: Middle English, from Old Norse gapa; perhaps akin to Latin hiare to gape, yawn — more at yawn Date: 13th century 1. a. to open the mouth wide b. to open or part widely <
holes gaped in the pavement
>
2. to gaze stupidly or in openmouthed surprise or wonder 3. yawngapingly adverb II. noun Date: 1535 1. an act of gaping: a. yawn b. an openmouthed stare 2. an unfilled space or extent 3. a. the median margin-to-margin length of the open mouth b. the line along which the mandibles of a bird close c. the width of an opening 4. plural but singular in construction a. a disease of birds and especially young birds in which gapeworms invade and irritate the trachea b. a fit of yawning

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • Gape — (g[aum]p; in Eng, commonly g[=a]p; 277), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Gaped} (g[aum]pt or g[=a]pt); 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 Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • gape — [geıp] v [Date: 1200 1300; : Old Norse; Origin: gapa] 1.) to look at something for a long time, especially with your mouth open, because you are very surprised or shocked = ↑stare gape at ▪ What are all these people gaping at? 2.) [i]also gape… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • gape — (v.) early 13c., from an unrecorded Old English word or else from O.N. gapa to open the mouth, gape, common West Germanic (Cf. M.Du., Du. gapen, Ger. gaffen to gape, stare, Swed. gapa, Dan. gabe), from PIE *ghai (see GAP (Cf. gap)). Related:… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Gape — Gape, n. 1. The act of gaping; a yawn. Addison. [1913 Webster] 2. (Zo[ o]l.) The width of the mouth when opened, as of birds, fishes, etc. [1913 Webster] {The gapes}. (a) A fit of yawning. (b) A disease of young poultry and other birds, attended… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • gape — [v1] gawk beam, bore, eye, eyeball*, focus, get a load of*, get an eyeful*, give the eye*, glare, gloat, goggle*, look, ogle, peer, rubberneck*, size up*, stare, take in*, wonder, yawp*; concept 623 gape [v2] be wide open cleave, crack, dehisce,… …   New thesaurus

  • gape — [gāp; ] occas. [ gap] vi. gaped, gaping [ME gapen < ON gapa < IE * ghēp < IE * ghēp < base * ghe , to yawn, gape > GAB, Gr chasma, abyss, L hiatus] 1. to open the mouth wide, as in yawning or hunger 2. to stare with the mouth open …   English World dictionary

  • gape — [ geıp ] verb intransitive 1. ) to look at something or someone with your mouth open because you are very surprised 2. ) to open wide or be wide open: Suddenly he was at the door, his pajama top gaping open …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • gape — vb *gaze, stare, glare, gloat, peer Analogous words: regard, admire (see under REGARD n): look, watch, *see …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • gape — ► VERB 1) be or become wide open. 2) stare with one s mouth open wide in amazement or wonder. ► NOUN 1) a wide opening. 2) an open mouthed stare. 3) a widely open mouth or beak. DERIVATIVES …   English terms dictionary

  • gape — verb ADVERB ▪ openly ▪ Stephanie gaped openly at the visitors. ▪ slightly ▪ Her mouth gaped slightly. PREPOSITION ▪ …   Collocations dictionary

  • gape — v. (D; intr.) to gape at * * * [geɪp] (D; intr.) to gape at …   Combinatory dictionary

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