GAPE

gape

(noun) a stare of amazement (usually with the mouth open)

gape

(noun) an expression of openmouthed astonishment

goggle, gape, gawp, gawk

(verb) look with amazement; look stupidly

gape, yawn, yaw

(verb) be wide open; “the deep gaping canyon”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Verb

gape (third-person singular simple present gapes, present participle gaping, simple past and past participle gaped)

(intransitive) To open the mouth wide, especially involuntarily, as in a yawn, anger, or surprise.

(intransitive) To stare in wonder.

(intransitive) To open wide; to display a gap.

(intransitive) Of a cat: to open the passage to the vomeronasal organ, analogous to the flehming in other animals.

Noun

gape (countable and uncountable, plural gapes)

(uncommon) An act of gaping; a yawn.

A large opening.

(uncountable) A disease in poultry caused by gapeworm in the windpipe, a symptom of which is frequent gaping.

The width of an opening.

(zoology) The maximum opening of the mouth (of a bird, fish, etc.) when it is open.

Anagrams

• PAGE, Page, page, peag

Source: Wiktionary


Gape (; in Eng, commonly ; 277), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Gaped ( or ); p. pr. & vb. n. Gaping] Etym: [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, n.

1. The act of gaping; a yawn. Addison.

2. (Zoöl.)

Definition: The width of the mouth when opened, as of birds, fishes, etc.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET



Word of the Day

22 November 2024

SHEET

(noun) (nautical) a line (rope or chain) that regulates the angle at which a sail is set in relation to the wind


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

The word “coffee” entered the English language in 1582 via the Dutch “koffie,” borrowed from the Ottoman Turkish “kahve,” borrowed in turn from the Arabic “qahwah.” The Arabic word qahwah was traditionally held to refer to a type of wine.

coffee icon