gapes

[geyps, gaps]

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. Veterinary Pathology.,  a parasitic disease of poultry and other birds, characterized by frequent gaping due to infestation of the trachea and bronchi with gapeworms.

2. a fit of yawning.

gapes

/ ɡeɪps /

noun

1. a disease of young domestic fowl, characterized by gaping or gasping for breath and caused by parasitic worms ( gapeworms )

2. informal,  a fit of yawning

Other Word Forms

• gapy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gapes¹

gape, -s ³

Example Sentences

And deep in the North Atlantic Ocean, an anglerfish gapes into the gloom.

Read more on New York Times

The crater gapes at about 13 miles wide and 2.6 miles deep.

Read more on Scientific American

The line of the river now gapes like an open wound, perhaps a hundred metres across in places.

Read more on BBC

He gapes upward to the spiky mountains, then to the sky.

Read more on Literature

“Today, a deep rift gapes between Russia and Europe where, according to Gorbachev’s vision, a common European house was supposed to arise with Russia and with a common security architecture,” she added.

Read more on Seattle Times