gap
Americannoun
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a break or opening, as in a fence, wall, or military line; breach.
We found a gap in the enemy's line of fortifications.
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an empty space or interval; interruption in continuity; hiatus.
a momentary gap in a siren's wailing; a gap in his memory.
- Synonyms:
- lull, interlude, break, interstice, pause
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a wide divergence or difference; disparity.
the gap between expenses and income; the gap between ideals and actions.
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a difference or disparity in attitudes, perceptions, character, or development, or a lack of confidence or understanding, perceived as creating a problem.
the technology gap; a communications gap.
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a deep, sloping ravine or cleft through a mountain ridge.
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Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S. a mountain pass.
the Cumberland Gap.
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Aeronautics. the distance between one supporting surface of an airplane and another above or below it.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
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a break or opening in a wall, fence, etc
-
a break in continuity; interruption; hiatus
there is a serious gap in the accounts
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a break in a line of hills or mountains affording a route through
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a gorge or ravine
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a divergence or difference; disparity
there is a gap between his version of the event and hers
the generation gap
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electronics
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a break in a magnetic circuit that increases the inductance and saturation point of the circuit
-
See spark gap
-
-
to remedy a deficiency
verb
Other Word Forms
- gapless adjective
- gappy adjective
Etymology
Origin of gap
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Old Norse: “chasm”; akin to Old Norse gapa “to open the mouth wide” ( gape ( def. ) )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The moment - if it happens - just highlights the current gap between the bitter rivals.
From BBC
Their results place the origin of sponges between 600-615 million years ago, narrowing the gap between genetic predictions and fossil evidence.
From Science Daily
Such gaps are not abstract — they represent real human lives that are lost or mangled.
From Salon
Instead, Coco can fill gaps in the delivery market while saving merchants money and improving the safety of city streets.
From Los Angeles Times
The gender gap is wider in influential positions, such as economics department chairs and the editorial board members of economics journals.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
