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Added 3 October 2026

gap

/ɡæp/ noun

In Latin: lacūna Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about gap at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures.
gap between income and outgo
An open or empty space in or between things.
there was a small opening between the trees
A narrow opening.
he opened the window a crack

verb

Make an opening or gap in.

Origin

Inherited from Middle English gap /gappe, from Old Norse gap (“an empty space, gap, chasm”), from gapa (“to gape, scream”), from Proto-Germanic *gapōną, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰeh₂- (“to open wide, gape”). Related to Danish gab (“an expanse, space, gap”), Old English ġeap (“open space, expanse”). Doublet of gape.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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