Yawn v. i. [imp. & p. p. Yawned p. pr. & vb. n. Yawning.]
1. To open the mouth involuntarily through drowsiness, dullness, or fatigue; to gape; to oscitate. “The lazy, yawning drone.”
And while above he spends his breath,
The yawning audience nod beneath. --Trumbull.
2. To open wide; to gape, as if to allow the entrance or exit of anything.
't is now the very witching time of night,
When churchyards yawn. --Shak.
3. To open the mouth, or to gape, through surprise or bewilderment.
4. To be eager; to desire to swallow anything; to express desire by yawning; as, to yawn for fat livings. “One long, yawning gaze.”
yawning
adj 1: gaping open as if threatening to engulf someone or
something; "the yawning mine shaft"; "a yawning abyss"
2: with the mouth wide open indicating boredom or sleepiness;
"a yawning congregation"
3: showing lack of attention or boredom; "the yawning
congregation" [syn: drowsy, oscitant, yawning(a)]
n : an involuntary intake of breath through a wide open mouth;
usually triggered by fatigue or boredom; "he could not
suppress a yawn"; "the yawning in the audience told him
it was time to stop"; "he apologized for his ostinancy"
[syn: yawn, oscitance, oscitancy]