gape

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To open the mouth wide, especially involuntarily, as in a yawn, anger, or surprise.

   1723, Jonathan Swift, The Journal of a Modern Lady, 1810, Samuel Johnson, The Works of the English Poets, from Chaucer to Cowper, Volume 11, page 467, She stretches, gapes, unglues her eyes, / And asks if it be time to rise;

2. 2
   verb

   To stare in wonder.

   Home I vvould go, / But that my Dores are hatefull to my eyes. / Fill'd and damm'd up vvith gaping Creditors, / VVatchfull as Fovvlers vvhen their Game vvill ſpring; […]

3. 3
   verb

   To open wide; to display a gap.

   The wound was gaping open and losing too much blood.

4. 4
   noun

   An act of gaping; a yawn.

   Now a gen'ral gape goes round, And vapours cloud each sleepy head.

5. 5
   noun

   a stare of amazement (usually with the mouth open)

6. 6
   noun

   an expression of openmouthed astonishment

7. 7
   verb

   look with amazement

8. 8
   verb

   be wide open

Etymology

From Middle English gapen, from Old Norse gapa (“to gape”) (compare Swedish gapa, Danish gabe), from Proto-Germanic *gapōną (descendants Middle English geapen, Dutch gapen, German gaffen), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰеh₂b-. Cognates include Russian зяпа (zjapa). Doublet of gap.