English > English | |
yawning | |
1. n. The action of the verb yawn. | |
2. adj. That yawns or yawn. | |
yawning commuters | |
3. adj. (figuratively) Wide open. | |
a yawning chasm; the shark's yawning jaws | |
yawn | |
1. v. To open the mouth widely and take a long, rather deep breath, often because one is tired or bored, and sometimes accompanied by pandiculation. | |
I could see my students yawning, so I knew the lesson was boring them. | |
2. v. To say while yawning. | |
3. v. To present a wide opening. | |
The canyon yawns as it has done for millions of years, and we stand looking, dumbstruck. | |
Death yawned before us, and I hit the brakes. | |
4. v. (obsolete) To open the mouth, or to gape, through surprise or bewilderment. | |
5. v. (obsolete) To be eager; to desire to swallow anything; to express desire by yawning. | |
to yawn for fat livings | |
6. n. The action of yawning; opening the mouth widely and taking a long, rather deep breath, often because one is tired or bored. | |
7. n. (colloquial) A particularly boring event. | |
The slideshow we sat through was such a yawn. I was glad when it finished. | |