# gasp

Pronunciation: US say "GASP" /ɡæsp/; UK say "GAHSP" /ɡɑːsp/

## Noun

1. A short, sudden drawing-in of breath, often caused by surprise, shock, or pain.
   - Simple: A quick, sudden breath in, often from surprise or shock.
   - _A collective gasp rose from the audience as the acrobat slipped._
   - _He gave a sharp gasp at the sudden cold of the water._
7. A single draw or drag on a cigarette. *(slang, British)*
   - Simple: A single pull of smoke taken from a cigarette.
   - _He nipped out for a quick gasp between shifts at the pub._
   - _Give us a gasp of that, mate, I've run out._

## Verb

2. To draw in breath suddenly, as if from a shock or startle.
   - Simple: To breathe in suddenly because you are shocked or surprised.
   - _The crowd gasped as the magician seemed to vanish._
   - _Readers gasp when they reach the revelation in the final chapter._
3. To breathe quickly or laboriously, as after exertion, with the chest heaving; to pant.
   - Simple: To breathe fast and hard, like after running a long way.
   - _She gasped for breath after sprinting the final lap._
   - _Swimmers gasp as they surface from a long underwater stretch._
4. To utter something in a breathless manner, the words broken by short, labored breaths.
   - Simple: To say something while breathing hard, so the words come out in short bursts.
   - _"It's gone," he gasped, clutching his chest._
   - _Patients sometimes gasp their last words before slipping into unconsciousness._
5. To long for something with eager, panting intensity; to show vehement desire.
   - Simple: To want something very strongly, as if you cannot wait to have it.
   - _The prisoners gasped for liberty after years behind bars._
   - _Young writers gasp for recognition, hungry for any sign of praise._

## Interjection

6. An exclamation imitating a sharp intake of breath, used to express surprise or, often, mock astonishment.
   - Simple: Used to show surprise or shock, often in a joking way.
   - _Gasp! The villain was hiding behind the curtain the whole time._
   - _He clutched his collar and cried, "Gasp! Not the good china!"_

## Origin

From Middle English gaspen or gayspen ("to gape, outbreathe"), likely derived from Old Norse geispa ("to yawn") or its Danish descendant gispe, which may be related to gapa ("to gape").

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