yawn

2 ENTRIES FOUND:

1yawn

verb \ˈyn, ˈyän\

Definition of YAWN

intransitive verb
1
: to open wide : gape
2
: to open the mouth wide and take a deep breath usually as an involuntary reaction to fatigue or boredom
transitive verb
1
: to utter with a yawn
2
: to accomplish with or impel by yawns <his grandchildren yawned him to bed — L. L. King>

Examples of YAWN

  1. Students were yawning in class.

Origin of YAWN

Middle English yenen, yanen, from Old English ginian; akin to Old High German ginēn to yawn, Latin hiare, Greek chainein
First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with YAWN

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