gasp

gasp
[[t]gɑ͟ːsp, gæ̱sp[/t]]
gasps, gasping, gasped
1) N-COUNT: usu with supp A gasp is a short quick breath of air that you take in through your mouth, especially when you are surprised, shocked, or in pain.

An audible gasp went round the court as the jury announced the verdict...

She gave a small gasp of pain.

2) VERB When you gasp, you take a short quick breath through your mouth, especially when you are surprised, shocked, or in pain.

[V for n] She gasped for air and drew in a lungful of water...

I heard myself gasp and cry out. [Also V with quote]

3) PHRASE: usu PHR of n, PHR n (emphasis) You describe something as the last gasp to emphasize that it is the final part of something or happens at the last possible moment.

...the last gasp of a dying system of censorship.

He snatched a last gasp winner.


English dictionary. 2008.

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  • Gasp — (g[.a]sp), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Gasped} (g[.a]spt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Gasping}.] [OE. gaspen, gaispen, to yawn, gasp, Icel. geispa to yawn; akin to Sw. g[ a]spa, Dan. gispe to gasp.] 1. To open the mouth wide in catching the breath, or in… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • gasp — gasp·er; gasp·i·ness; gasp·ing·ly; gasp; …   English syllables

  • gasp — ► VERB 1) catch one s breath with an open mouth, from pain, breathlessness, or astonishment. 2) (gasp for) strain to obtain (air) by gasping. 3) (be gasping for) informal be desperate to have. ► NOUN ▪ a convulsive catching of breath …   English terms dictionary

  • Gasp — Gasp, n. The act of opening the mouth convulsively to catch the breath; a labored respiration; a painful catching of the breath. [1913 Webster] {At the last gasp}, at the point of death. Addison. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • gasp — [gasp] vi. [ME gaspen < ON geispa, to yawn, prob. by metathesis of * geipsa < geipa, to gossip: for IE base see GAPE] to inhale suddenly, as in surprise, or breathe with effort, as in choking vt. to say or tell with gasps n. a gasping;… …   English World dictionary

  • gasp|y — «GAS pee, GAHS », adjective, gasp|i|er, gasp|i|est. out of breath; gasping …   Useful english dictionary

  • Gasp — Gasp, v. t. To emit or utter with gasps; with forth, out, away, etc. [1913 Webster] And with short sobs he gasps away his breath. Dryden. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • gasp — inter. ES ingl. {{wmetafile0}} spec. nel linguaggio dei fumetti, esprime sorpresa o sbigottimento; anche s.m.inv {{line}} {{/line}} DATA: sec. XX. ETIMO: da (to) gasp ansimare , di orig. onom …   Dizionario italiano

  • gasp — [n] sharply drawn breath blow, ejaculation, exclamation, gulp, heave, pant, puff, wheeze, whoop; concepts 163,595 gasp [v] draw breath in sharply blow, catch one’s breath, choke, convulse, fight for breath, gulp, heave, inhale, inspire, pant,… …   New thesaurus

  • gasp — ● gasp nom masculin Mouvement respiratoire inefficace d origine réflexe, phénomène terminal de l agonie …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • GASP — GASP,   Abkürzung für die Gemeinsame Außen und Sicherheitspolitik der Europäischen Union …   Universal-Lexikon

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