I. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English gulpen, from a Middle Dutch or Middle Low German word; akin to Dutch & Frisian gulpen to bubble forth, drink in large drafts, Norwegian gylpa to gulp, Old English gielpan to boast — more at yelp
transitive verb
1.
a. : to swallow in large drafts or pieces hurriedly or greedily
corrected me for gulping my food — Rex Ingamells
— often used with down
gulped down the whiskey and put on our coats — Nevil Shute
b. : to consume in one swallow — often used with down
raw meat is usually not chewed but gulped down like an oyster — H.B.Collins
2.
a. : to take in or absorb in any manner : devour — usually used with down
their attempts to gulp down knowledge and to regulate their lives by received ideas — Atlantic
b. : to accept without investigation or question : swallow whole — usually used with down
the old man … gulped down the whole narrative — Henry Fielding
3. : to keep back as if by swallowing : suppress — often used with down
gulped down her sobs and was resolved to be firm — Anthony Trollope
intransitive verb
1. : to catch the breath as if in taking a long drink
the white settler gulps hard and smiles wanly — Time
2. : to swallow food or drink hurriedly or greedily
should learn to taste rather than to gulp — Current Biography
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : the act or an instance of gulping
swallowed the medicine at one gulp
b. : the amount taken in a single large swallow
had time only for a gulp of hot coffee
2.
a. : a spasmodic action of the throat made in or as if in swallowing
b. : the sound of such action
eyes wide and luminous, cheeks flushed … she spoke in gulps — Murray Schumach