/yawn/ , v.i.
1. to open the mouth somewhat involuntarily with a prolonged, deep inhalation and sighing or heavy exhalation, as from drowsiness or boredom.
2. to open wide like a mouth.
3. to extend or stretch wide, as an open and deep space.
v.t.
4. to say with a yawn.
5. Archaic. to open wide, or lay open, as if by yawning.
n.
6. an act or instance of yawning.
7. an opening; open space; chasm.
8. Also, yawner . Informal. something so boring as to make one yawn: Critics say the new fashions are one big yawn.
[ bef. 900; ME yanen, yonen (v.), alter. of yenen, OE ge ( o ) nian; akin to OE ganian, ginan, ON gina, G gähnen, L hiare (see HIATUS), Gk chaínein to gape (see CHASM) ]
Syn. 1-3. gape.