YAWN • FREE-TRANSLATOR.COM • Definition of Yawn

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/jɔn/ Listen

noun

Yawn n.

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."

The act of opening wide, or of gaping.

A chasm, mouth, or passageway. (R.) "Now gape the graves, and trough their yawns let loose Imprisoned spirits."

verb

Yawn v. i. (past & past part. yawned; pres. part. yawning)

To open the mouth involuntarily through drowsiness, dullness, or fatigue; to gape; to oscitate. "The lazy, yawning drone." "And while above he spends his breath, The yawning audience nod beneath."

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."

To open the mouth, or to gape, through surprise or bewilderment.

To be eager; to desire to swallow anything; to express desire by yawning; as, to yawn for fat livings. "One long, yawning gaze."

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Etymology of 'Yawn'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Yawn" Quotes from Famous Books

... we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in London ...

— The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes • Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

... of the clock, oh! Wake my lazy head! Your shoes of red morocco, Your silk bed-gown: Rouse, rouse, speck-eyed Mary In your high bed! A yawn, a smile, sleepy-starey, Mary climbs down. "Good-morning to my brothers, Good-day to the Sun, Halloo, halloo to the lily-white sheep That up the ...

— Country Sentiment • Robert Graves

... would breathe the suppressed invocation, "Angels and ministers of grace defend us!" as the idea crept curdling over his brain and through his veins, "It is the very witching time of night, When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out ...

— The Destiny of the Soul - A Critical History of the Doctrine of a Future Life • William Rounseville Alger

... coquettishly rendered a little French ballad. Marya Dmitrievna did not know how to express her delight; she several times tried to send for Lisa. Gedeonovsky, too, was at a loss for words, and could only nod his head, but all at once he gave an unexpected yawn, and hardly had time to cover his mouth with his! hand. This yawn did not escape Varvara Pavlovna; she at once turned her back on the piano, observing, "Assez de musique comme ca; let us talk," and she folded her arms. "Oui, assez de musique," repeated Panshin gaily, and at once he dropped into ...

— A House of Gentlefolk • Ivan Turgenev

... you while you go to your charch," said Mr. Pericles. And here Wilfrid was seized with a yawn, and rose, and asked his eldest sister if she meant to attend ...

— The Shaving of Shagpat • George Meredith

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