yawning


Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Financial, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

yawn·ing

 (yô′nĭng)
adj.
Gaping open; cavernous: a yawning abyss.
yawn′ing·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.yawning - an involuntary intake of breath through a wide open mouthyawning - 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 oscitancy"
yawn, oscitance, oscitancy
pandiculation - yawning and stretching (as when first waking up)
inborn reflex, innate reflex, instinctive reflex, physiological reaction, reflex, reflex action, reflex response, unconditioned reflex - an automatic instinctive unlearned reaction to a stimulus
Adj.1.yawning - gaping open as if threatening to engulf someone or something; "the yawning mine shaft"; "a yawning abyss"
open - affording free passage or access; "open drains"; "the road is open to traffic"; "open ranks"
2.yawning - with the mouth wide open indicating boredom or sleepiness; "a yawning congregation"
opened, open - used of mouth or eyes; "keep your eyes open"; "his mouth slightly opened"
3.yawning - showing lack of attention or boredom; "the yawning congregation"
oscitant, drowsy
inattentive - showing a lack of attention or care; "inattentive students"; "an inattentive babysitter"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

yawning

adjective gaping, wide, huge, vast, wide-open, cavernous a yawning budget deficit
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

yawning

adjective
Open wide:
abysmal, abyssal, cavernous, gaping.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
مُتَثائِب، فاغِر
zející
gabende
gapandi
alabildiğine açık

yawning

[ˈjɔːnɪŋ] adj [gap] → béant(e)Y chromosome n → chromosome m Y
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

yawning

adj chasm etc → gähnend
n → Gähnen nt
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

yawning

[ˈjɔːnɪŋ] adj (fig) (gap, abyss) → spalancato/a
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

yawn

(joːn) verb
to stretch the mouth wide and take a deep breath when tired or bored. He yawned and fell asleep.
noun
an act of yawning. a yawn of boredom.
ˈyawning adjective
wide open. a yawning gap.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
Mentioned in ?
References in classic literature ?
I know not, sir, when I got this habit of yawning, nor whether these attacks of howling were inflicted on me as a judgment for my crimes, or for any other cause; but this I do know, that when I yawn for the third time, I actually turn into a wolf and attack men." With this speech he commenced a second fit of yawning and again howled like a wolf, as he had at first.
View in context
He's got to be sensible, or he'd be springing or lashing out instead of yawning. He knows he's licked, and that yawn of his merely says: 'I quit.
View in context
"Agony I know not!" said the British Lion, yawning; "the swivel in my tail needs a few drops of oil, that is all."
View in context
The two young gentlemen from the University performed prodigies of yawning, in the intervals of prodigies of billiard playing.
As for the men, it is unnecessary to say that the young ones smoked when they were not yawning, and yawned when they were not smoking.
View in context
Higgins begins half singing half yawning an air from La Fanciulla del Golden West.
View in context
"I will put him to sleep," Mary said to the yawning nurse.
View in context
`Suppose we change the subject,' the March Hare interrupted, yawning. `I'm getting tired of this.
`They were learning to draw,' the Dormouse went on, yawning and rubbing its eyes, for it was getting very sleepy; `and they drew all manner of things--everything that begins with an M--'
View in context
Kutuzov still in the same place, his stout body resting heavily in the saddle with the lassitude of age, sat yawning wearily with closed eyes.
View in context
"I can't bear heat," remarked the Princess Langwidere, yawning lazily, "so I shall stay at home.
"Then," said the Tiger, yawning frightfully, "please to get me about thirty pounds of tenderloin steak, cooked rare, with a peck of boiled potatoes on the side, and five gallons of ice-cream for dessert."
View in context

Dictionary browser ?
Full browser ?