gasp
verbnouninterjectioncommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ɡɑːsp//
- United Kingdom//ɡæsp//
- United States//ɡæsp//
- Scotland//ɡasp//
To draw in the breath suddenly, as if from a shock.
verb
- 1
To draw in the breath suddenly, as if from a shock.
The audience gasped as the magician disappeared.
- 2
To breathe quickly or in a labored manner, as after exertion; to respire with heaving of the breast; to pant.
We were all gasping when we reached the summit.
c. 1761-1764, Robert Lloyd, An Epistle to C. Churchill, Author of the Rosicad She gasps and struggles hard for life.
Bon's thighs wrapped around her waist, and Annie moved against her slowly, watching every flutter of her lashes, every gasp that spilled out.
- 3
To speak in a breathless manner.
The old man gasped his last few words.
- 4
To pant with eagerness or excitement; to show vehement desire.
I'm gasping for a cup of tea.
Quenching the gasping furrows' thirst with rain.
Etymology
From Middle English gaspen, gayspen (“to gape, outbreathe”), related to and likely derived from Old Norse geispa (“to yawn”) or its descendant Danish gispe, which may be related to gapa (“to gape”).
noun
- 1
A short, sudden intake of breath.
The audience gave a gasp of astonishment
- 2
slangA draw or drag on a cigarette (or gasper).
I'm popping out for a gasp.
interjection
- 1
The sound of a gasp.
Gasp! What will happen next?
Forms
- plural
- gasps
- past tense
- gasped
- past participle
- gasped
- present participle
- gasping
- third person singular
- gasps
gasp · To draw in the breath suddenly, as if from a shock.
gasping · The act by which one gasps.gaston · A grip using one hand with the thumb down and elbow out.Gaston · A surname from Old Northern French.