Gape

Gape
Gape 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 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. [1913 Webster]

She stretches, gapes, unglues her eyes, And asks if it be time to rise. --Swift. [1913 Webster] (c) Showing unselfconsciousness in surprise, astonishment, expectation, etc. [1913 Webster]

With gaping wonderment had stared aghast. --Byron. (d) Manifesting a desire to injure, devour, or overcome. [1913 Webster]

They have gaped upon me with their mouth. --Job xvi. 10. [1913 Webster]

2. To open or part widely; to exhibit a gap, fissure, or hiatus. [1913 Webster]

May that ground gape and swallow me alive! --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. To long, wait eagerly, or cry aloud for something; -- with for, after, or at. [1913 Webster]

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

Syn: To gaze; stare; yawn. See {Gaze}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • 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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