verb / noun
gape
GAYP/ɡˈeɪp/
To remain wide open.
The man's mouth gapes as he stares at the enormous flower.
Etymology
The word may come from Old Norse “to open the mouth wide,” though an unrecorded Old English source is also possible. The open mouth is the central image in staring with surprise.
In context
the rest of the reporters could only gape at the depth of his knowledge of what were then obscure countries
More examples
- A hole gapes in the heel of my sock.
- Her bag gaped open, revealing a pile of receipts.
- The suitcase lies gaping on the bed.
Forms
gape · gapes · gaped · gaping