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gasp

gasp [ gasp ]


verb  (past and past participle gasped, present participle gasp·ing, 3rd person present singular gasps)
Definition:
 
1. intransitive verb breathe in sharply: to draw in breath with a sudden short audible intake

2. intransitive verb labor to breathe: to breathe with laborious effort

3. transitive verb say something with gasp: to say something with a sudden short audible intake of breath



noun  (plural gasps)
Definition:
 
1. sudden intake of breath: a sudden short audible intake of breath, e.g. in surprise or pain

2. instance of difficult breathing: a laborious effort to breathe

[14th century. < Old Norse geispa "yawn"]

the last gasp somebody's final attempt or action, or the final phase of something

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