\Yawn\ (y[add]n), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Yawned}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Yawning}.] [OE. yanien, [yogh]anien, ganien, gonien,
AS. g[=a]nian; akin to ginian to yawn, g[=i]nan to yawn, open
wide, G. g["a]hnen to yawn, OHG. gin[=e]n, gein[=o]n, Icel.
g[=i]na to yawn, gin the mouth, OSlav. zijati to yawn, L.
hiare to gape, yawn; and perhaps to E. begin, cf. Gr. cheia`
a hole. [root]47b. Cf. Begin, Gin to begin, {Hiatus}.]
1. To open the mouth involuntarily through drowsiness,
   dullness, or fatigue; to gape; to oscitate. ``The lazy,
   yawning drone.'' --Shak.
         And while above he spends his breath, The yawning
         audience nod beneath.                 --Trumbull.
2. To open wide; to gape, as if to allow the entrance or exit
   of anything.
         't is now the very witching time of night, When
         churchyards yawn.                     --Shak.
3. To open the mouth, or to gape, through surprise or
   bewilderment. --Shak.
4. To be eager; to desire to swallow anything; to express
   desire by yawning; as, to yawn for fat livings. ``One
   long, yawning gaze.'' --Landor.

\Yawn\, n.
1. An involuntary act, excited by drowsiness, etc.,
   consisting of a deep and long inspiration following
   several successive attempts at inspiration, the mouth,
   fauces, etc., being wide open.
         One person yawning in company will produce a
         spontaneous yawn in all present.      --N. Chipman.
2. The act of opening wide, or of gaping. --Addison.
3. A chasm, mouth, or passageway. [R.]
         Now gape the graves, and trough their yawns let
         loose Imprisoned spirits.             --Marston.