gasp of surprise

  • 1surprise — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun 1 feeling of surprise ADJECTIVE ▪ great, total, utter ▪ mild, slight, some ▪ initial …

    Collocations dictionary

  • 2gasp — [gasp] vi. [ME gaspen < ON geispa, to yawn, prob. by metathesis of * geipsa < geipa, to gossip: for IE base see GAPE] to inhale suddenly, as in surprise, or breathe with effort, as in choking vt. to say or tell with gasps n. a gasping;… …

    English World dictionary

  • 3gasp — I n. 1) to emit, give, let out a gasp 2) an audible gasp 3) a gasp for (a gasp for breath) 4) (misc.) the last gasp ( the last effort ) II v. 1) (d; intr.) to gasp at ( to express surprise at ) (they gasped at our offer) 2) (D; intr.) ( to… …

    Combinatory dictionary

  • 4gasp — I UK [ɡɑːsp] / US [ɡæsp] verb [intransitive] Word forms gasp : present tense I/you/we/they gasp he/she/it gasps present participle gasping past tense gasped past participle gasped mainly literary * a) to breathe in suddenly, for example because… …

    English dictionary

  • 5gasp — gasp1 [ gæsp ] verb intransitive MAINLY LITERARY * to breathe in suddenly, for example because you are surprised, shocked, or in pain: gasp at: I literally gasped at how beautiful it was. He gasped as the freezing water hit his body. a. to make a …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • 6gasp — 01. I m feeling much better now, he [gasped], and then he died. 02. The children [gasped] in fright when the monster appeared on stage. 03. The old woman was clutching her hand to her chest, and [gasping] for breath. 04. The motor gave a last… …

    Grammatical examples in English

  • 7gasp — /gæsp / (say gasp), /gasp / (say gahsp) noun 1. a sudden, short breath; convulsive effort to breathe. 2. a short, convulsive utterance, especially as a result of fear or surprise. –verb (i) 3. to catch the breath, or struggle for breath, with… …

  • 8gasp — gaspingly, adv. /gasp, gahsp/, n. 1. a sudden, short intake of breath, as in shock or surprise. 2. a convulsive effort to breathe. 3. a short, convulsive utterance: the words came out in gasps. 4. last gasp, the point of death; dying: At his last …

    Universalium

  • 9gasp — [gɑːsp] verb [I] 1) to breathe in suddenly because you are surprised, shocked, or in pain He gasped as the freezing water hit his body.[/ex] 2) to make a violent effort to breathe because you need more air Laura coughed and spluttered as she… …

    Dictionary for writing and speaking English

  • 10gasp — [[t]gæsp, gɑsp[/t]] n. 1) a sudden, short intake of breath, as in shock or surprise 2) phl a convulsive effort to breathe 3) a short, convulsive utterance 4) to catch one s breath 5) phl to struggle for breath with the mouth open 6) to utter with …

    From formal English to slang