yawn

Noun · Verb

Synonyms: yawning oscitance oscitancy gape yaw

WordNet 3.0

Noun (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”Synonyms: yawning oscitance oscitancy

Verb (2)

utter a yawn, as from lack of oxygen or when one is tired“The child yawned during the long performance”
be wide open“the deep gaping canyon”Synonyms: gape yaw

Webster's Dictionary (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]

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]