yawn

¹yawn

verb \ˈyȯn, 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

ban, Bonn, chon, con, conn, dawn, don, Don, drawn, faun, fawn, gone, guan, Jon, khan, maun, mon, on, pan, pawn, prawn, Shan, spawn, swan, wan, yon, yuan