Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [geyp, gap]
- /geɪp, gæp/
- /ˈɡeɪ.pɪŋ/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [geyp, gap]
- /geɪp, gæp/
Definitions of gaping word
- verb without object gaping to stare with open mouth, as in wonder. 1
- verb without object gaping to open the mouth wide involuntarily, as the result of hunger, sleepiness, or absorbed attention. 1
- verb without object gaping to open as a gap; split or become open wide. 1
- noun gaping a wide opening; gap; breach. 1
- noun gaping an act or instance of gaping. 1
- noun gaping a stare, as in astonishment or with the mouth wide open. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of gaping
First appearance:
before 1175 One of the 8% oldest English words
1175-1225; Middle English < Old Norse gapa to open the mouth wide; compare German gaffen
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Gaping
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
gaping popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 85% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
gaping usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for gaping
adj gaping
- vast — of very great area or extent; immense: the vast reaches of outer space.
- cavernous — A cavernous room or building is very large inside, and so it reminds you of a cave.
- broad — Something that is broad is wide.
- great — unusually or comparatively large in size or dimensions: A great fire destroyed nearly half the city.
- yawning — being or standing wide open; gaping: the yawning mouth of a cave.
adjective gaping
- wide — having considerable or great extent from side to side; broad: a wide boulevard.
- wide open — opened to the full extent: a wide-open window.
- huge — extraordinarily large in bulk, quantity, or extent: a huge ship; a huge portion of ice cream.
- deep — If something is deep, it extends a long way down from the ground or from the top surface of something.
- abysmal — If you describe a situation or the condition of something as abysmal, you think that it is very bad or poor in quality.
Antonyms for gaping
Top questions with gaping
- what is gaping?
- what does gaping mean?
- what is the definition of gaping?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with g
- Words starting with ga
- Words starting with gap
- Words starting with gapi
- Words starting with gapin
- Words starting with gaping