gap  (g ăp)
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n.1. a. An opening in a solid structure or surface; a cleft or breach: wriggled through a gap in the fence; a large gap in the wall where the artillery shell had exploded. b. A break in a line of defense. 2. An opening through mountains; a pass. 3. A space between objects or points; an aperture: a gap between his front teeth. 4. An interruption of continuity: a nine-minute gap in the recorded conversation; needed to fill in the gaps in her knowledge. 5. a. A conspicuous difference or imbalance; a disparity: a gap between revenue and spending; the widening gap between rich and poor. b. A problematic situation resulting from such a disparity: the budget gap; the technology gap. 6. A spark gap. v. gapped, gap·ping, gaps v.tr.1. To make an opening or openings in: a wall that was gapped. 2. To make or adjust a space between (objects or points) or in (a device): gap boards on a deck; gap a spark plug. v.intr. To be or become open: Her coat gapped open.
[Middle English, from Old Norse, chasm.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2020 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices
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