gapes

American  

[geyps, gaps] / geɪps, gæps /

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.

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gapes British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• gapy adjective

Etymology

Origin of gapes

gape, -s ³

Example Sentences

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

From New York Times

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

From Scientific American

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

From BBC

“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.

From Seattle Times

Referring to the 2016 attack, Mr. Cablitz said: “It is a wound that still gapes in the heart of the city. Everyone remembers it.”

From New York Times