Gape
Gape (gap; in Eng, commonly gāp; 277) , intransitive verb
[Old English gapen, Anglo-Saxon geapan to open; akin to Dutch gapen to gape, German gaffen, Icelandic & Swedish gapa, Danish gabe; compare Sanskrit jabh to snap at, open the mouth. Compare Gaby, Gap.]
1.
To open the mouth wide
(a)
Expressing a desire for food; as, young birds gape.
(b)
Indicating sleepiness or indifference; to yawn. — Dryden
She stretches, gapes, unglues her eyes,
And asks if it be time to rise.
(c)
Showing unselfconsciousness in surprise, astonishment, expectation, etc.
With gaping wonderment had stared aghast.
(d)
Manifesting a desire to injure, devour, or overcome.
They have gaped upon me with their mouth.
2.
To open or part widely; to exhibit a gap, fissure, or hiatus.
May that ground gape and swallow me alive!
3.
To long, wait eagerly, or cry aloud for something; -- with for, after, or at.
The hungry grave for her due tribute gapes.
Gape , noun
1.
The act of gaping; a yawn. — Addison
2.
(Zoology) The width of the mouth when opened, as of birds, fishes, etc.
Collocations (1)
The gapes , (a) A fit of yawning. (b) A disease of young poultry and other birds, attended with much gaping. It is caused by a parasitic nematode worm (Syngamus trachealis), in the windpipe, which obstructs the breathing. See Gapeworm.