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Webster 1913 Edition


Gasp

Gasp

(gȧsp)
,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Gasped
(gȧspt)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Gasping
.]
[OE.
gaspen
,
gaispen
, to yawn, gasp, Icel.
geispa
to yawn; akin to Sw.
gäspa
, Dan.
gispe
to gasp.]
1.
To open the mouth wide in catching the breath, or in laborious respiration; to labor for breath; to respire convulsively; to pant violently.
She
gasps
and struggles hard for life.
Lloyd.
2.
To pant with eagerness; to show vehement desire.
Quenching the
gasping
furrows’ thirst with rain.
Spenser.

Gasp

,
Verb.
T.
To emit or utter with gasps; – with forth, out, away, etc.
And with short sobs he
gasps
away his breath.
Dryden.

Gasp

,
Noun.
The act of opening the mouth convulsively to catch the breath; a labored respiration; a painful catching of the breath.
At the last gasp
,
at the point of death.
Addison.

Webster 1828 Edition


Gasp

G`ASP

, v.i.
1.
To open the mouth wide in catching the breath or in laborious respiration; particularly in dying.
2.
To long for. [Not in use.]

G`ASP

,
Verb.
T.
To emit breath by opening wide the mouth.
And with short sobs he gasps away his breath.

G`ASP

,
Noun.
The act of opening the mouth to catch the breath.
1.
The short catch of the breath in the agonies of death.

Definition 2024


gasp

gasp

See also: gäsp

English

Noun

gasp (plural gasps)

  1. A short, sudden intake of breath.
    The audience gave a gasp of astonishment
  2. (Britain, slang): A draw or drag on a cigarette (or gasper).
    I'm popping out for a gasp.

Translations

Verb

gasp (third-person singular simple present gasps, present participle gasping, simple past and past participle gasped)

  1. (intransitive) To draw in the breath suddenly, as if from a shock.
    The audience gasped as the magician disappeared.
  2. (intransitive) To breathe laboriously or convulsively.
    We were all gasping when we reached the summit.
    • Lloyd
      She gasps and struggles hard for life.
  3. (transitive) To speak in a breathless manner.
    The old man gasped his last few words.
  4. To pant with eagerness; to show vehement desire.
    I'm gasping for a cup of tea.
    • Spenser
      Quenching the gasping furrows' thirst with rain.

Translations

Interjection

gasp

  1. (humorous) The sound of a gasp.
    Gasp! What will happen next?

References

  1. gasp” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).

Anagrams