Main Entry:

¹yawn

Pronunciation:

\ˈyȯn, ˈyän\

Function:

verb

Etymology:

Middle English yenen, yanen, from Old English ginian; akin to Old High German ginēn to yawn, Latin hiare, Greek chainein

Date:

before 12th century

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>