[hi.a.tus] n [L, fr. hiare to yawn--more at yawn] (1563) 1 a: a break in or as if in a material object: gap "the ~ between the theory and the practice of the party --J. G. Colton" b: a gap or passage in an anatomical part or organ
2. a: an interruption in time or continuity: break b: the occurrence of two vowel sounds without pause or intervening consonantal sound