Category:Gasp

Gasp, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Gasped; p. pr. & vb. n. Gasping.] Etym: [OE. gaspen, gaispen, to yawn, gasp, Icel. geispa to yawn; akin to Sw. gäspa, Dan. gispe to gasp.]

1. To open the mouth wide in catching the breath, or in laborious respiration; to labor for breath; to respire convulsively; to pant violently. She gasps and struggles hard for life. Lloyd.

2. To pant with eagerness; to show vehement desire. Quenching the gasping furrows' thirst with rain. Spenser.

gasp Gasp, v. t.

Defn: To emit or utter with gasps; -- with forth, out, away, etc. And with short sobs he gasps away his breath. Dryden.

gasp Gasp, n.

Defn: The act of opening the mouth convulsively to catch the breath; a labored respiration; a painful catching of the breath. At the last gasp, at the point of death. Addison.