Definition of gape
gaped
;gaping
intransitive verb
1a : to open the mouth wideb : to open or part widely holes gaped in the pavement
2 : to gaze stupidly or in openmouthed surprise or wonder gaped at the squabbling monkeys
3 : yawn The dull lecture made the students gape.
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Examples of gape in a Sentence
she suddenly realized she had been gaping at the good-looking waiter instead of giving him her order
Origin and Etymology of gape
Middle English gapen, borrowed from Old Norse gapa, going back to Germanic *gapōn- (whence Middle Dutch gapen “to gaze stupidly,” Middle High German gaffen), perhaps of phonesthemic origin
gape
Definition of gape
1 : an act of opening the mouth wide:a : yawnb : an openmouthed stare
2 : an unfilled space or extent
3a : the median margin-to-margin length of the open mouthb : the line along which the mandibles (see mandible 1c) of a bird closec : the width of an opening
4 gapes plural but singular in construction a : a disease of birds and especially young birds in which gapeworms invade and irritate the trachea (see trachea 1)b : a fit of yawning
Examples of gape in a Sentence
I told him to stop staring, that his rather stupid gape was annoying.
Origin and Etymology of gape
derivative of 1gape
GAPE Defined for English Language Learners
gape
playDefinition of gape for English Language Learners
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: to open widely
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: to look at someone or something with your mouth open in surprise or wonder
GAPE Defined for Kids
Definition of gape for Students
gaped
;gaping
1 : to stare with the mouth open in surprise or wonder … he stood and gaped at her in astonishment … — Astrid Lindgren, Pippi Longstocking
2 : to open or part widely a gaping wound
Definition of gape for Students
: an act or instance of opening or staring with the mouth open He ignored everyone's stunned gapes.
Learn More about gape
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See words that rhyme with gape Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for gape Spanish Central: Translation of gape Nglish: Translation of gape for Spanish speakers
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