I. ˈyȯn, ˈyän verb
Etymology: Middle English yenen, yanen, from Old English ginian; akin to Old High German ginēn to yawn, Latin hiare, Greek chainein
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
1. : to open wide : gape
2. : to open the mouth wide and take a deep breath usually as an involuntary reaction to fatigue or boredom
transitive verb
1. : to utter with a yawn
2. : to accomplish with or impel by yawns
his grandchildren yawn ed him to bed — L. L. King
II. noun
Date: 1602
1. : gap , cavity
2. : an opening of the mouth wide while taking a deep breath often as an involuntary reaction to fatigue or boredom ; also : a reaction resembling a yawn
a…success at the box office but drew only yawn s from critics — Current Biography
3. : bore V
this book is kind of a yawn — Ilene L. Cooper