Link Centre Dictionary

gape

UK/ˈɡeɪp/ US/ˈɡeɪp/ rare
verb (2) noun (2)

verb

1.

look with amazement; look stupidly

Synonyms
2.

be wide open

  • “the deep gaping canyon”
Synonyms

noun

1.

an expression of open-mouthed astonishment

2.

a stare of amazement (usually with the mouth open)

Origin

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.

Phrases

  • gape for
  • gape seed

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.