First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1yawn
verb \ˈyȯn, ˈyän\
: to open your mouth wide while taking in breath usually because you are tired or bored
of an opening, hole, etc. : to be deep, large, etc.
Full Definition of YAWN
intransitive verb
1
: to open wide : gape
2
: to open the mouth wide and take a deep breath usually as an involuntary reaction to fatigue or boredom
transitive verb
1
: to utter with a yawn
2
: to accomplish with or impel by yawns <his grandchildren yawned him to bed — L. L. King>
See yawn defined for English-language learners
See yawn defined for kids
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Origin of YAWN
Middle English yenen, yanen, from Old English ginian; akin to Old High German ginēn to yawn, Latin hiare, Greek chainein
2yawn
noun
: an act of opening your mouth wide while taking in breath : an act of yawning
: something that is very boring
Full Definition of YAWN
2
: an opening of the mouth wide while taking a deep breath often as an involuntary reaction to fatigue or boredom; also : a reaction resembling a yawn <a … success at the box office but drew only yawns from critics — Current Biography>
3
: 5bore <this book is kind of a yawn — Ilene L. Cooper>
See yawn defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of YAWN
1602
YAWNS Defined for Kids
1yawn
verb \ˈyȯn\
yawnedyawn·ing
Definition of YAWN for Kids
1
: to open the mouth wide and take a deep breath usually as an involuntary reaction to being tired or bored
2
: to open wide <A pit yawned below.>
2yawn
noun
Definition of YAWN for Kids
: an opening of the mouth while taking a deep breath usually as an involuntary reaction to being tired or bored
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