gasp

American  

[gasp, gahsp] / gæsp, gɑsp /

noun

1. a sudden, short intake of breath, as in shock or surprise.

2. a convulsive effort to breathe.

3. a short, convulsive utterance.

   the words came out in gasps.

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verb (used without object)

1. to catch one's breath.

   Synonyms:

   blow, puff

2. to struggle for breath with the mouth open; breathe convulsively.

   Synonyms:

   blow, puff

3. to long with breathless eagerness; desire; crave (usually followed by for orafter ).

verb (used with object)

1. to utter with gasps (often followed by out, forth, away, etc.).

   She gasped out the words.

2. to breathe or emit with gasps (often followed byaway ).

idioms

1. last gasp, the point of death; dying.

   At his last gasp he confessed to the murder.

gasp British  

/ ɡɑːsp /

verb

1. (intr) to draw in the breath sharply, convulsively, or with effort, esp in expressing awe, horror, etc

2. (intr; foll by after or for) to crave

3. to utter or emit breathlessly

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noun

1. a short convulsive intake of breath

2. a short convulsive burst of speech

3. 1. at the point of death

   2. at the last moment

gasp More Idioms  

1. see last gasp.

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Related Words

See pant ¹.

Other Word Forms

• gaspingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of gasp

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English gaspen, probably Old English *gāspen, equivalent to Old Norse geispa; akin to gape

Example Sentences

And while health care has deteriorated badly in recent years because of shortages of medicines and equipment, it remains free — a system gasping but not abandoned.

From Salon

It wasn't long before he fell, and then again, to the gasps of the crowd.

From Barron's

That set the tone for the rest of his four-minute performance which drew gasps of disbelief from the crowd at the Milano Ice Skating Arena.

From Barron's

Lee said Choi "did not waver" after a brutal fall that drew audible gasps from the crowd during her first run.

From Barron's

The crowd gasped and clapped louder than at any other point of her program.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• choke
• snort
• whoop