yawn

Definitions

1. 1.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.
2. 2.To open the mouth, or to gape, through surprise or bewilderment. Shak.
3. 3.To be eager; to desire to swallow anything; to express desire by yawning; as, to yawn for fat livings. "One long, yawning gaze." Landor.
4. 4.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.
5. 5.The act of opening wide, or of gaping. Addison.
6. 6.A chasm, mouth, or passageway. [R.] Now gape the graves, and trough their yawns let loose Imprisoned spirits. Marston.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Related questions

• What does "yawn" mean?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is yawn.

• What is 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 called?
• What is to open the mouth, or to gape, through surprise or bewilderment. Shak called?
• What is to be eager; to desire to swallow anything; to express desire by yawning; as, to yawn for fat livings. "One long, yawning gaze." Landor called?
• What is the act of opening wide, or of gaping. Addison called?
• What is a chasm, mouth, or passageway. [R.] Now gape the graves, and trough their yawns let loose Imprisoned spirits. Marston called?