Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Gape
Gape
(gäp; in Eng, commonly gāp; 277)
, Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Gaped
(gäpt or gāpt)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Gaping
] 1.
To open the mouth wide
; as:
(a)
Expressing a desire for food;
as, young birds
. gape
Dryden.
(b)
Indicating sleepiness or indifference; to yawn.
She stretches,
And asks if it be time to rise.
gapes
, unglues her eyes,And asks if it be time to rise.
Swift.
(c)
Showing unselfconsciousness in surprise, astonishment, expectation, etc.
(d)
Manifesting a desire to injure, devour, or overcome.
They have
gaped
upon me with their mouth. Job xvi. 10.
2.
To open or part widely; to exhibit a gap, fissure, or hiatus.
May that ground
gape
and swallow me alive! Shakespeare
3.
To long, wait eagerly, or cry aloud for something; – with for, after, or at.
Syn. – To gaze; stare; yawn. See
Gaze
. Gape
,Noun.
1.
The act of gaping; a yawn.
Addison.
2.
(Zool.)
The width of the mouth when opened, as of birds, fishes, etc.
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
.Webster 1828 Edition
Gape
G`APE
,Verb.
I.
1.
To open the mouth wide, from sleepiness, drowsiness or dullness; to yawn.2.
To open the mouth for food, as young birds.3.
To gape for or after, to desire earnestly; to crave; to look and long for; as, men often gape after court favor. The hungry grave for her due tribute gapes.
To gape at, in a like sense, is hardly correct.
4.
To open in fissures or crevices; as a gaping rock. May that ground gape, and swallow me alive.
5.
To have a hiatus; as one vowel gaping on another.6.
To open the mouth in wonder or surprise; as the gaping fool; the gaping crowd.7.
To utter sound with open throat.8.
To open the mouth with hope or expectation.9.
To open the mouth with a desire to injure or devour. They have gaped upon me with their mouth. Job.16.