# gapping

Pronunciation: say "GAP-ing" /ˈɡæpɪŋ/

## Verb

1. Present participle and gerund of gap. — present participle and gerund of gap
   - Simple: The -ing form of gap. Use it after am, is, are, was or were, or to name the action.
   - _He is gapping the spark plugs to improve the engine's performance._
   - _Gapping the plugs correctly helps the engine start in cold weather._

## Noun

2. The formation of a gap or open space, especially where two surfaces or edges separate.
   - Simple: The making of an open space or gap between two parts.
   - _The nurse documented gapping at one end of the surgical wound._
   - _Bone fragments that are poorly aligned can leave gapping at the fracture site._
3. A type of ellipsis in the non-initial parts of coordinate structures that omits at least the finite verb, along with any non-finite verbs present.
   - Simple: Leaving out a repeated verb in the second part of a joined sentence.
   - _Gapping allows 'Maria studies biology, and Luis chemistry,' where the verb disappears in the second clause._
   - _In coordinate structures, gapping removes the repeated verb while keeping the contrasting subject and object._

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/gapping (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).