■ verb
1》 be or become wide open.
2》 stare with one's mouth open wide in amazement or wonder.
■ noun
1》 a wide opening.
↘an open-mouthed stare.
↘a widely open mouth or beak.
2》 ( the ~s ) a disease of birds with gaping of the mouth as a symptom, caused by infestation with ~worm.
Derivatives
gaping adjective
gapingly adverb
Origin
ME: from ON gapa ; related to gap .