Yawn

Yawn
Involuntary opening of the mouth, often caused by suggestion. Yawning is characterized by breathing first inward, then outward. Repeated yawning is often a sign of drowsiness. It may also sometimes be a sign of depression.
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1. To gape. 2. An involuntary opening of the mouth, usually accompanied by inspiration; it may be a sign of drowsiness or of vital depression, as after hemorrhage, but is often caused by suggestion. [A.S. ganian]

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yawn 'yȯn, 'yän vi to open the mouth wide and take a deep breath usu. as an involuntary reaction to fatigue or boredom
yawn n an opening of the mouth wide while taking a deep breath often as an involuntary reaction to fatigue or boredom

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Yawn — (y[add]n), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Yawned}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Yawning}.] [OE. yanien, [yogh]anien, ganien, gonien, AS. g[=a]nian; akin to ginian to yawn, g[=i]nan to yawn, open wide, G. g[ a]hnen to yawn, OHG. gin[=e]n, gein[=o]n, Icel. g[=i]na to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • yawn´er — yawn «yawn», verb, noun. –v.i. 1. to open the mouth wide because one is sleepy, tired, or bored: »The reader must not yawn, or yield to tickles in the throat, or tire of the tale in the middle (London Times). 2. to open wide; gape: »The canyon… …   Useful english dictionary

  • yawn — /yawn/, v.i. 1. to open the mouth somewhat involuntarily with a prolonged, deep inhalation and sighing or heavy exhalation, as from drowsiness or boredom. 2. to open wide like a mouth. 3. to extend or stretch wide, as an open and deep space. v.t …   Universalium

  • yawn — yawn·ful; yawn; yawn·er; yawn·ful·ly; …   English syllables

  • yawn|y — «YAW nee», adjective, yawn|i|er, yawn|i|est. characterized by a yawn or yawns; inclined to yawning: »There were those first few unbelievable steps when you are nervously tired and yawny and must learn…the easy rhythm (Harper s) …   Useful english dictionary

  • Yawn — Yawn, n. 1. 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. [1913 Webster] One person yawning in company… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • yawn — [yôn] vi. [ME yanen, prob. merging OE ginian & ganian, to gape, akin to Ger gähnen < IE base * ĝhei , to gape, prob. echoic of the yawning sound > Gr chainein, L hiare, to gape] 1. to open the mouth wide, esp. involuntarily, and breathe in… …   English World dictionary

  • yawn — [v] open mouth wide, usually sign of fatigue catch flies*, divide, doze, drowse, expand, gap, gape, give, nap, part, sleep, snooze, spread, yaw, yawp*; concepts 163,185 …   New thesaurus

  • yawn — ► VERB 1) involuntarily open one s mouth wide and inhale deeply due to tiredness or boredom. 2) (yawning) wide open: a yawning chasm. ► NOUN 1) an act of yawning. 2) informal a boring or tedious thing or event. ORIGIN Ol …   English terms dictionary

  • Yawn — Yawning redirects here. For the fish species, see Yawning (fish). Joseph Ducreux pandiculating; self portrait ca. 1783 A yawn is a reflex of simultaneous inhalation of air and stretching of the eardrums, followed by exhalation of breath. P …   Wikipedia

  • yawn — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun ADJECTIVE ▪ big, deep, huge ▪ loud, noisy ▪ stifled ▪ collective (figurative …   Collocations dictionary

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