noun
1. drowsiness and dullness manifested by yawning
• Syn: ↑oscitance
• Derivationally related forms: ↑oscitant
• Hypernyms: ↑sleepiness, ↑drowsiness, ↑somnolence, ↑dullness, ↑obtuseness
2. an involuntary intake of breath through a wide open mouth; usually triggered by fatigue or boredom
-
he could not suppress a yawn
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the yawning in the audience told him it was time to stop
-
he apologized for his oscitancy
• Hypernyms:
↑reflex, ↑reflex response, ↑reflex action, ↑instinctive reflex, ↑innate reflex, ↑inborn reflex, ↑unconditioned reflex, ↑physiological reaction
• Hyponyms: ↑pandiculation
Useful english dictionary. 2012.