gorge

¹ American  

[gawrj] / gɔrdʒ /

noun

1. a narrow cleft with steep, rocky walls, especially one through which a stream runs.

   Synonyms:

   gap, notch, ravine, defile

2. a small canyon.

3. a gluttonous meal.

4. something that is swallowed; contents of the stomach.

5. an obstructing mass.

   an ice gorge.

6. the seam formed at the point where the lapel meets the collar of a jacket or coat.

7. Fortification. the rear entrance or part of a bastion or similar outwork.

8. Also called gorge hook.  a primitive type of fishhook consisting of a piece of stone or bone with sharpened ends and a hole or groove in the center for fastening a line.

9. the throat; gullet.

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verb (used with object)

gorged, gorging

1. to stuff with food (usually used reflexively or passively).

   He gorged himself. They were gorged.

   Synonyms:

   fill, cram, glut

2. to swallow, especially greedily.

   Synonyms:

   gobble, gulp, bolt, devour

3. to choke up (usually used passively).

verb (used without object)

gorged, gorging

1. to eat greedily.

idioms

1. make one's gorge rise, to evoke violent anger or strong disgust.

   The cruelty of war made his gorge rise.

gorge ² American  

[gawrj] / gɔrdʒ /

noun

Heraldry.

1. gurge.

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gorge British  

/ ɡɔːdʒ /

noun

1. a deep ravine, esp one through which a river runs

2. the contents of the stomach

3. feelings of disgust or resentment (esp in the phrase one's gorge rises )

4. an obstructing mass

   an ice gorge

5. fortifications

   1. a narrow rear entrance to a work

   2. the narrow part of a bastion or outwork

6. archaic the throat or gullet

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verb

1. (intr) falconry (of hawks) to eat until the crop is completely full

2. to swallow (food) ravenously

3. (tr) to stuff (oneself) with food

gorge Scientific  

/ gôrj /

1. A deep, narrow valley with steep rocky sides, often with a stream flowing through it. Gorges are smaller and narrower than canyons and are often a part of a canyon.

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Other Word Forms

• gorgeable adjective
• gorgedly adverb
• gorger noun

Etymology

Origin of gorge

First recorded in 1325–75; (verb) Middle English, from Old French gorger, derivative of gorge “throat,” from unattested Vulgar Latin gorga, akin to Latin gurguliō “gullet, throat,” gurges “whirlpool, eddy”

Example Sentences

He approves of credit, too, despite the human proclivity to alternately gorge and fast on loans and bonds and mortgages.

From The Wall Street Journal

These networks will gorge themselves during the feast years, then adapt to leaner times, remaining profitable, just not explosive.

From MarketWatch

For food, families often gorge themselves on special "Party Barrels" bursting with chicken, an array of side dishes and a dessert -- such as ice cream or cheesecake -- stored at the bottom in a separate compartment.

From Barron's

Even now, as Master Gogolev gorged himself on food and self-pity, son and father sat in Lord Fredrick’s taxidermy-filled study only one floor below, speaking of Switzerland, wallpaper, and baby names.

From Literature

The private-equity industry, after gorging on technology investments in the wake of the pandemic, is now coming back around to bread-and-butter companies such as industrial suppliers and service providers.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• canyon
• chasm
• crevasse
• ravine