'Yawn' definitions:
Definition of 'yawn'
(from WordNet)
noun
An involuntary intake of breath through a wide open mouth; usually triggered by fatigue or boredom; "he could not suppress a yawn"; "the yawning in the audience told him it was time to stop"; "he apologized for his oscitancy" [syn: yawn, yawning, oscitance, oscitancy]
verb
Utter a yawn, as from lack of oxygen or when one is tired; "The child yawned during the long performance"
verb
Definition of 'Yawn'
From: GCIDE
- Yawn \Yawn\, n.
- 1. An involuntary act, excited by drowsiness, etc., consisting of a deep and long inspiration following several successive attempts at inspiration, the mouth, fauces, etc., being wide open. [1913 Webster]
- One person yawning in company will produce a spontaneous yawn in all present. --N. Chipman. [1913 Webster]
- 2. The act of opening wide, or of gaping. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
- 3. A chasm, mouth, or passageway. [R.] [1913 Webster]
- Now gape the graves, and trough their yawns let loose Imprisoned spirits. --Marston. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Yawn'
From: GCIDE
- Yawn \Yawn\ (y[add]n), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Yawned; p. pr. & vb. n. Yawning.] [OE. yanien, [yogh]anien, ganien, gonien, AS. g[=a]nian; akin to ginian to yawn, g[imac]nan to yawn, open wide, G. g[aum]hnen to yawn, OHG. gin[=e]n, gein[=o]n, Icel. g[imac]na to yawn, gin the mouth, OSlav. zijati to yawn, L. hiare to gape, yawn; and perhaps to E. begin, cf. Gr. cheia` a hole. [root]47b. Cf. Begin, Gin to begin, Hiatus.] [1913 Webster]
- 1. To open the mouth involuntarily through drowsiness, dullness, or fatigue; to gape; to oscitate. "The lazy, yawning drone." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- And while above he spends his breath, The yawning audience nod beneath. --Trumbull. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To open wide; to gape, as if to allow the entrance or exit of anything. [1913 Webster]
- 't is now the very witching time of night, When churchyards yawn. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 3. To open the mouth, or to gape, through surprise or bewilderment. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 4. To be eager; to desire to swallow anything; to express desire by yawning; as, to yawn for fat livings. "One long, yawning gaze." --Landor. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'yawn'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- aperture,
- boredom,
- broaching,
- cavity,
- chasm,
- check,
- clearing,
- cleft,
- crack,
- dehisce,
- dehiscence,
- disclosure,
- doldrums,
- doze,
- drowse,
- ennui,
- fenestra,
- fistula,
- fontanel,
- foramen,
- gap,
- gape,
- gaping,
- gat,
- gulf,
- hang open,
- hiatus,
- hole,
- hollow,
- inlet,
- interval,
- lacuna,
- laying open,
- leak,
- nap,
- opening,
- opening up,
- orifice,
- oscitancy,
- oscitate,
- oscitation,
- outlet,
- pandiculation,
- passageway,
- pore,
- slot,
- snooze,
- space,
- split,
- stoma,
- the gapes,
- throwing open,
- uncorking,
- unstopping,
- yaw,
- yawning