Definition of "yawn" in English

verb

1. (intransitive) To open the mouth widely and take a long, rather deep breath, often because one is tired or bored, and sometimes accompanied by pandiculation.

   • I could see my students yawning, so I knew the lesson was boring them.
   • c. 1773, John Trumbull, The Progress of Dulness, Exeter, New Hampshire: Henry Ranlet, 1794, Part 1, p. 19, And while above he spends his breath, The yawning audience nod beneath.

2. To say while yawning.

3. To present a wide opening; gape.

   • The canyon yawns as it has done for millions of years, and we stand looking, dumbstruck.
   • Death yawned before us, and I hit the brakes.

4. (obsolete) To open the mouth, or to gape, through surprise or bewilderment.

5. (obsolete) To be eager; to desire to swallow anything; to express desire by yawning.

   • to yawn for fat livings

noun

1. The action of yawning; opening the mouth widely and taking a long, rather deep breath, often because one is tired or bored.

2. (colloquial) A particularly boring event.

   • The slideshow we sat through was such a yawn. I was glad when it finished.