gap

¹gap

noun \ˈgap\

Definition of GAP

1

a : a break in a barrier (as a wall, hedge, or line of military defense)

b : an assailable position

2

a : a mountain pass

b : ravine

3

: spark gap

4

a : a separation in space

b : an incomplete or deficient area <a gap in her knowledge>

5

: a break in continuity : hiatus

6

: a break in the vascular cylinder of a plant where a vascular trace departs from the central cylinder

7

: lack of balance : disparity <the gap between imports and exports>

8

: a wide difference in character or attitude <the generation gap>

9

: a problem caused by some disparity <a communication gap> <credibility gap>

— gap·py \ˈga-pē\ adjective

Examples of GAP

1. The child had a gap between her two front teeth.
2. The gap between the lead runner and the rest of the field continued to widen.
3. The sheep got through a gap in the fence.
4. There are unexplained gaps in his story.
5. The class filled in the gaps in my knowledge of biology.
6. She had taken several years off to raise a family, so there was a large gap in her work history.

Origin of GAP

Middle English, from Old Norse, chasm, hole; akin to Old Norse gapa to gape

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to GAP

Synonyms

breach, break, discontinuity, gulf, hiatus, hole, interstice, interval, opening, rent, rift, separation, void

Antonyms

continuation, continuity

Related Words

chink, cleft, crack, cranny, crevice, fissure; notch, slit, slot, split; interspace, pore; abyss, aperture, cavity, chasm, gape, orifice; fracture, rupture, severance, sundering

Near Antonyms

continuum, run, stretch; procession, progression

Rhymes with GAP

cap, chap, clap, crap, flap, frap, gape, hap, knap, lap, Lapp, map, nap, nape, nappe, pap, rap, sap, scrap, slap, snap, strap, tap, trap, wrap, yap, Yap, zap

²gap

verb

gappedgap·ping

Definition of GAP

transitive verb

1

: to make an opening in

2

: to adjust the space between the electrodes of (a spark plug)

intransitive verb

: to fall or stand open

First Known Use of GAP

1879

gap

noun \ˈgap\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of GAP

: a break in continuity especially of structure : hiatus