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gasp
[ gasp, gahsp ]
noun
- a sudden, short intake of breath, as in shock or surprise.
- a convulsive effort to breathe.
- a short, convulsive utterance:
the words came out in gasps.
verb (used without object)
- to catch one's breath.
Synonyms: ,
- to struggle for breath with the mouth open; breathe convulsively.
Synonyms: ,
- to long with breathless eagerness; desire; crave (usually followed by for or after ).
verb (used with object)
- to utter with gasps (often followed by out, forth, away, etc.):
She gasped out the words.
- to breathe or emit with gasps (often followed by away ).
gasp
/ ɡɑː /
verb
- intr to draw in the breath sharply, convulsively, or with effort, esp in expressing awe, horror, etc
- intr; foll by after or for to crave
- troften foll byout to utter or emit breathlessly
noun
- a short convulsive intake of breath
- a short convulsive burst of speech
- at the last gasp
- at the point of death
- at the last moment
Derived Forms
- ˈ辱Բ, adverb
Other Word Forms
- iԲ· adverb
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of gasp1
Idioms and Phrases
- last gasp, the point of death; dying:
At his last gasp he confessed to the murder.
More idioms and phrases containing gasp
see last gasp .Synonym Study
Example Sentences
In one, he screams "you are going to die in my hands you wee cow" as she gasps for breath.
Cold water shock causes gasping and uncontrolled breathing as the body tries to keep warm and the muscles in limbs will cool, which reduces strength, coordination and the ability to swim.
"The judge told us what the charges were, and it was just gasps, abject horror. I'd never seen that level of violence before," Lee Thompson told BBC News NI.
It draws out those delighted gasps and effusive praise: This cake is amazing!
Sementilli, 51, gasped and broke down in tears, clutching her hands over her mouth as the verdict was read.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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