gasp

See also: gäsp

English

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”).[1]

Pronunciation

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 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.
  3. (transitive) 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.

Translations

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.

Derived terms

Translations

Interjection

gasp

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

Translations

References
  1. Douglas Harper (2001–2023), “gasp”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Anagrams

Westrobothnian

Noun

gasp n

  1. loud talking, joking, fun
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