Definitions for: Yawn


[n] 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 ostinancy"
[v] utter a yawn; as from lack of oxygen or when one is tired
[v] be wide open



Webster (1913) Definition: 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[=i]nan to yawn, open
wide, G. g["a]hnen to yawn, OHG. gin[=e]n, gein[=o]n, Icel.
g[=i]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.]
1. To open the mouth involuntarily through drowsiness,
dullness, or fatigue; to gape; to oscitate. ``The lazy,
yawning drone.'' --Shak.

And while above he spends his breath, The yawning
audience nod beneath. --Trumbull.

2. To open wide; to gape, as if to allow the entrance or exit
of anything.

't is now the very witching time of night, When
churchyards yawn. --Shak.

3. To open the mouth, or to gape, through surprise or
bewilderment. --Shak.

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.


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.

One person yawning in company will produce a
spontaneous yawn in all present. --N. Chipman.

2. The act of opening wide, or of gaping. --Addison.

3. A chasm, mouth, or passageway. [R.]

Now gape the graves, and trough their yawns let
loose Imprisoned spirits. --Marston.

Synonyms: gape, oscitance, oscitancy, yaw, yawning

See Also: be, breathe, inborn reflex, innate reflex, instinctive reflex, pandiculation, physiological reaction, reflex, respire, suspire, take a breath, unconditioned reflex

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