yawn
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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

2yawn

noun

Definition of YAWN

1
: gap, cavity
2
: an opening of the mouth wide while taking a deep breath often as an involuntary reaction to fatigue or boredom; also : a reaction resembling a yawn <a … success at the box office but drew only yawns from critics — Current Biography>
3
: 5bore <this book is kind of a yawn — Ilene L. Cooper>

Examples of YAWN

  1. I tried to stifle a yawn.
  2. <as neither candidate was willing to make an unequivocal statement about anything, the debate proved to be a complete yawn>

First Known Use of YAWN

1602

Related to YAWN

Synonyms
bore, drip, droner, dullsville, nudnik (also nudnick), snooze, snoozer, drag, yawner

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