Sekirov Dictionary

yawn

/jɔːn/

verb 5
noun 2
forms 5

verb5

•
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.
•
To present a wide opening; gape.
- 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.
•
To say while yawning.
- “I haven’t the least idea what I want to do,” he yawned. — 1922
•
(no longer used) To open the mouth, or to gape, through surprise or bewilderment.
- […] O heavy hour! Methinks it should be now a huge eclipse Of sun and moon, and that the affrighted globe Should yawn at alteration. — 1603
•
(no longer used) To be eager; to desire to swallow anything; to express desire by yawning.
- Fly not, as thou wert wont, to his embrace, Lest, after one long yawning gaze, he swear Thou art the best good fellow in the world, But he had quite forgotten thee, by Jove! — 1824

noun2

•
The action of yawning; opening the mouth widely and taking a long, rather deep breath, often because one is tired or bored.
- But Mrs. MacWhirr, in the drawing-room […], stifled a yawn—perhaps out of self-respect—for she was alone. — 1902
•
(informal) A particularly boring event.
- The slideshow we sat through was such a yawn. I was glad when it finished.

forms

yawned · yawning · yawneth · yawns · yawnest

This dictionary works without the internet: on your phone · in Chrome