gulp

GULP/ɡʌlp/

Verbgulps, gulping, gulped

Noun pluralgulps

6 meanings of gulp

1
verbtransitive
To swallow food or drink quickly, often in one big swallow.
Like a thirsty dog drinking water as fast as it can.
He was so thirsty that he gulped the whole glass of juice.
Don't gulp your food. Eat slowly.
Similardrink, imbibe
Oppositesip
Note
2
nouncountable
The amount of food or drink that you swallow at one time.
He took a big gulp of milk and wiped his mouth.
She finished the whole soda in three gulps.
Similarswallow, mouthful, swig
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3
verbintransitive
To swallow because you suddenly feel scared or nervous.
I gulp every time the dentist picks up the drill.
She gulped when the teacher called her name for the answer.
Similarswallow
Note
4
nouncountable
The sound a person or animal makes when swallowing, sometimes because of fear.
Everyone heard his gulp when the teacher announced the surprise test.
The puppy drank from its bowl with loud gulps.
Similarswallow
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5
interjection
Used to show that someone is suddenly scared or worried, like a nervous swallow.
Gulp! I just remembered the test is today.
The bill comes to how much? Gulp.
Similaryikes, uh-oh, eek
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Less common meaning

6
nounrarecountable
In computers, a small piece of data, often two bytes.
A computer taking a gulp of data is like you taking one mouthful of a drink: a small amount, all at once.
The program reads the file one gulp at a time.
Old game consoles moved their data in gulps of two bytes.
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Practice

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Origin

It comes from Middle English gulpen, probably from a Dutch or Flemish word. Its exact origin is unknown, and it may simply imitate the sound.