Search Result for "yawn": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (1)

1. an involuntary intake of breath through a wide open mouth; usually triggered by fatigue or boredom;
- Example: "he could not suppress a yawn"
- Example: "the yawning in the audience told him it was time to stop"
- Example: "he apologized for his oscitancy"
[syn: yawn, yawning, oscitance, oscitancy]


VERB (2)

1. utter a yawn, as from lack of oxygen or when one is tired;
- Example: "The child yawned during the long performance"

2. be wide open;
- Example: "the deep gaping canyon"
[syn: gape, yawn, yaw]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

yawn n 1: 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] v 1: utter a yawn, as from lack of oxygen or when one is tired; "The child yawned during the long performance" 2: be wide open; "the deep gaping canyon" [syn: gape, yawn, yaw]