2 definitions found From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]: gasping adjective: breathing laboriously or convulsively [syn: {blown}, {out of breath(p)}, {panting}, {pursy}, {short-winded}, {winded}] From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]: Gasp \Gasp\ (g[.a]sp), verb (used without an object) [imp. & p. p. {Gasped} (g[.a]spt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Gasping}.] [OE. gaspen, gaispen, to yawn, gasp, Icel. geispa to yawn; akin to Sw. g["a]spa, Dan. gispe to gasp.] 1. To open the mouth wide in catching the breath, or in laborious respiration; to labor for breath; to respire convulsively; to pant violently. She gasps and struggles hard for life. --Lloyd. 2. To pant with eagerness; to show vehement desire. Quenching the gasping furrows' thirst with rain. --Spenser.

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