I. gulp 1 /ɡʌlp/ BrE AmE verb
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Origin: Probably from Middle Dutch gulpen 'to swallow' ]
1 . ( also gulp down ) [transitive] to swallow large quantities of food or drink quickly SYN bolt :
She gulped down her breakfast and ran for the bus.
2 . [intransitive] to swallow suddenly because you are surprised or nervous:
I gulped when I saw the bill.
3 . ( also gulp in ) [transitive] to breathe in large amounts of air quickly:
We rushed outside and gulped in the sweet fresh air.
4 . be gulping for air to breathe in large amounts of air quickly because you do not have enough air in your body
gulp something ↔ back phrasal verb
to stop yourself from expressing your feelings:
Sandra tried to gulp back her tears.
II. gulp 2 BrE AmE noun [countable]
1 . a large amount of something that you swallow quickly, or the action of swallowing
gulp of
He took a huge gulp of brandy.
in one gulp/at a gulp
Charlie drank the whisky in one gulp.
2 . a large amount of air that you breathe in quickly:
gulps of fresh air