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# gape

verb (gape, gapes, gaped, gaping); noun (a gape, gapes)

«gape» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To stare with your mouth wide open, because you are surprised or amazed. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gape/#m1)
2. To be or become wide open: a hole gaped in the wall. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gape/#m2)
3. (noun) A wide-open mouth or a wide opening; in birds, the width of the open beak. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gape/#m3)

### In the lessons

In stories, characters «gape» when they are shocked or astonished, and a «gaping hole» or «gaping wound» is a big, frightening opening. In science, the gape of a bird or snake is how wide it can open its mouth. Phrases: gape at, a gaping hole, gaping mouth, stand gaping.

### Examples

- We gaped at the giant whale skeleton in the museum. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gape/#x1)
- The children gaped when the magician vanished. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gape/#x2)
- A huge hole gaped in the road after the flood. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gape/#x3)
- Don't just stand there gaping, help me! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gape/#x4)
- The baby birds gaped, waiting for worms. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gape/#x5)
- A snake's gape lets it swallow an egg whole. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gape/#x6)
- There was a gaping hole in the fence where the cow got out. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gape/#x7)
- The gape of his enormous jaws was nearly as wide as the gateway of the king's palace. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gape/#x8)

### Note

Past: gaped (one p); -ing: gaping. Pronounced to rhyme with «tape». Do not confuse with «gasp» (a quick breath in) or «gap» (a space). «Gawp» (UK) is a similar informal word for staring rudely.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «gape» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gape/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«gape» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/gape.html) on Mova free.